Novel diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic biomarkers for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-derived hepatocellular carcinoma: Capable to overcome the heterogeneity-specific barrier

Recent years have seen a rapid increase in the incidence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-derived liver cancer, the heterogeneity-specific nature of biomarkers is significantly contributing to the high mortality rate worldwide. Objective: To screen new pathogenic genes associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-derived hepatocellular carcinoma (NASH-related HCC) and related pathways, and break through the heterogeneity barrier. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using a gene expression chip. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG analyses were performed after. We then built protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks to identify hub gene. The diagnostic and prognostic role of the hub genes in NASH-related HCC patients of various clinicopathological features were revealed by a comprehensive bioinformatics approach. Results: : The following 10 HUB genes were identified: YWHAZ, JUN, MDM2, ACTR3, HNRNPA2B1, FOS, CANX, RBBP4, RBFOX3, and RAC1. These genes were mainly enriched in pathways such as cell division, cell metabolism, protein binding. We further revealed that all the hub genes were significantly dysregulated in HCC patients of various clinicopathological features including different races, cancer stages, genders, age groups, and body weights. Additionally, some chemotherapeutic drugs were found to interact with hub gene. Conclusions: : The genes identified in this study might play a crucial role in the progression of NASH to hepatocellular carcinoma and as potential biomarkers of NASH-HCC patients that could help to overcome the heterogenetic-specific barrier across different clinicopathological features.