PPM1G and its diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic potential in HCC (Review)

Global statistics indicate that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer‑related death. Protein phosphatase Mg²⁺/Mn²⁺ dependent 1G (PPM1G, also termed PP2Cγ) is one of the 17 members of the PPM family. The enzymatic activity of PPM1G is highly reliant on Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ and serves as a dephosphorylation regulator for numerous key proteins. PPM1G, functioning as a phosphatase, is involved in a number of significant biological processes such as the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, DNA damage response, cell cycle and apoptosis, cell migration ability, cell survival and embryonic nervous system development. Additionally, PPM1G serves a role in regulating various signaling pathways. In recent years, further research has increasingly highlighted PPM1G as an oncogene in HCC. A high expression level of PPM1G is closely associated with the occurrence, progression and poor prognosis of HCC, offering notable diagnostic and therapeutic value for this patient population. In the present review, the regulatory role of PPM1G in diverse biological processes and signaling pathway activation in eukaryotes is evaluated. Furthermore, its potential application as a biomarker in the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of HCC is assessed, and future prospects for HCC treatment strategies centered on PPM1G are discussed.