Shi J, Zhu X, Yang JB. Advances and challenges in molecular understanding, early detection, and targeted treatment of liver cancer. World J Hepatol 2025; 17(1): 102273 [DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i1.102273]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Jun-Bo Yang, PhD, Associate Professor, Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 97 Buxin Road, Dapeng New District, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong Province, China. 1806389316@pku.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Oncology
Article-Type of This Article
Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Hepatol. Jan 27, 2025; 17(1): 102273 Published online Jan 27, 2025. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i1.102273
Advances and challenges in molecular understanding, early detection, and targeted treatment of liver cancer
Ji Shi, Xu Zhu, Jun-Bo Yang
Ji Shi, Xu Zhu, Department of Research and Development, Ruibiotech Company Limited, Beijing 100101, China
Jun-Bo Yang, Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Xu Zhu and Jun-Bo Yang.
Author contributions: Shi J wrote the manuscript; Zhu X and Yang JB revised it; All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Jun-Bo Yang, PhD, Associate Professor, Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 97 Buxin Road, Dapeng New District, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong Province, China. 1806389316@pku.edu.cn
Received: October 14, 2024 Revised: November 12, 2024 Accepted: November 27, 2024 Published online: January 27, 2025 Processing time: 84 Days and 19.2 Hours
Abstract
In this review, we explore the application of next-generation sequencing in liver cancer research, highlighting its potential in modern oncology. Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma, is driven by a complex interplay of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Key genetic alterations, such as mutations in TERT, TP53, and CTNNB1, alongside epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone remodeling, disrupt regulatory pathways and promote tumorigenesis. Environmental factors, including viral infections, alcohol consumption, and metabolic disorders such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, enhance hepatocarcinogenesis. The tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in liver cancer progression and therapy resistance, with immune cell infiltration, fibrosis, and angiogenesis supporting cancer cell survival. Advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies have shown potential, but the unique immunosuppressive milieu in liver cancer presents challenges. Dysregulation in pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin underscores the need for targeted therapeutic strategies. Next-generation sequencing is accelerating the identification of genetic and epigenetic alterations, enabling more precise diagnosis and personalized treatment plans. A deeper understanding of these molecular mechanisms is essential for advancing early detection and developing effective therapies against liver cancer.
Core Tip: This review delves into the complexities of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); a highly aggressive form of liver cancer with a low 5-year survival rate and limited treatment options. It examines various factors contributing to HCC, highlights the need for improved early detection using biomarkers and advanced techniques like next-generation sequencing, and emphasizes the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms involved, particularly the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, to provide evidence for the development of more effective and personalized therapies.
