RAD54L Is a Prognostic Biomarker and Demonstrate Correlation With Drug Sensitivity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents an aggressive nature and poor prognosis, contributing significantly to cancer mortality.
• RAD54L, a DNA repair protein, is investigated for its role in HCC progression and as a potential prognostic marker.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of RAD54L in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression.
• To evaluate RAD54L as a prognostic marker for HCC.
• To explore the therapeutic potential of targeting RAD54L in HCC.

Main Methods:

• RAD54L expression analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases.
• Kaplan-Meier survival curves and multivariate Cox regression for prognostic evaluation.
• Functional enrichment, PPI network, and drug sensitivity analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• RAD54L mRNA levels were significantly upregulated in HCC tissues compared to normal liver samples.
• High RAD54L expression correlated with poorer overall survival and disease-free intervals in HCC patients.
• RAD54L knockdown reduced HepG2 cell proliferation and increased sensitivity to gemcitabine.

Conclusions:

• Elevated RAD54L expression is linked to adverse prognosis in HCC.
• RAD54L shows potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in HCC management.
• Targeting RAD54L may enhance the efficacy of gemcitabine therapy for HCC.