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Updated: Sep 9, 2025

Author Spotlight: Investigating Liver Cancer Pathogenesis Using Patient-Derived Organoids
Published on: August 18, 2023
Single cell-RNA sequencing reveal TOP2A as a key driver of hepatocellular carcinoma progression
Lian Xie1, Fangyin Xu1, Ruixin Shi1
1Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A) is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and drives tumor progression. Knockdown of TOP2A inhibits HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, offering a potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a significant global health challenge with limited effective therapeutic strategies.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving HCC progression is crucial for developing novel treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biological functions and oncogenic role of Topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A) in HCC.
- To explore TOP2A as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.
Main Methods:
- Bioinformatics analysis and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of HCC tissues.
- Quantitative PCR (QPCR) and Western Blotting to validate TOP2A expression and siRNA knockdown efficiency.
- In vitro functional assays including CCK8, wound-healing, Transwell, and flow cytometry to assess proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis.
Main Results:
- TOP2A was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and correlated with poor prognosis.
- siRNA-mediated TOP2A knockdown (>70% efficiency) significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, while promoting apoptosis.
- scRNA-seq data suggested TOP2A promotes Tmem-to-Tex differentiation via the SPP1-CD44 axis, potentially contributing to immune evasion.
Conclusions:
- TOP2A is a critical oncogenic driver and an independent prognostic biomarker in HCC.
- Targeting TOP2A can inhibit HCC progression and may overcome immune evasion.
- TOP2A represents a promising therapeutic target for HCC immunotherapy.
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