Identification of potential therapeutic targets in hepatocellular carcinoma using an integrated bioinformatics approach

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a heterogeneous cancer, is one of the most common malignant tumors and the main cause for cancer-related death worldwide (1). Major risk factors for HCC include aflatoxin exposure, tobacco use, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, and various carcinogens. Hepatitis B and C viral infection also cause HCC, although this is more common in sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Asia (2,3). Surgical resection is currently the first-line treatment for HCC, specifically liver resection, liver transplantation, and local ablation (4). Other therapeutic options include systemic treatments that are individualized for each patient (5). Unfortunately, not all therapies are effective, and frequent tumor recurrence and poor prognosis are common problems associated with HCC, particularly when it is diagnosed at an advanced stage. Thus, there is a need to better understand the molecular pathogenesis of HCC and explore novel therapies