Integrative analysis of exosomal ncRNAs and their regulatory networks in liver cancer progression

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant global health challenge with complex molecular underpinnings. Recent advancements in understanding the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and exosomes in cancer biology have opened new avenues for research into potential diagnostic and therap...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Farzin Mirzaei-nasab, Ahmad Majd, Yousef Seyedena, Nazanin Hosseinkhan, Najma Farahani, Mehrdad Hashemi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Practical Laboratory Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352551725000174
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant global health challenge with complex molecular underpinnings. Recent advancements in understanding the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and exosomes in cancer biology have opened new avenues for research into potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Methods: This study utilized a comprehensive approach to analyze gene expression patterns and regulatory networks in HCC. We integrated RNA sequencing data gathered from both tissue samples and exosomes. The WGCNA and limma R packages were employed to construct co-expression networks and identify differentially expressed ncRNAs, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Results: Our analysis demonstrated distinct expression profiles of various ncRNAs in HCC, revealing their intricate interactions with cancer-related genes. Key findings include the identification of a network of microRNAs that interact with selected lncRNAs and their potential roles as biomarkers. Moreover, exosomal RNA was shown to effectively reflect tissue-specific gene expression changes. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the significance of exosomal ncRNAs in the progression of liver cancer, suggesting their potential as both diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Future research should focus on the functional implications of these ncRNAs to further elucidate their roles in HCC and explore their applications in clinical settings.
ISSN:2352-5517