A comprehensive proteome analysis of hepatitis B virus- associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the major cancer causing deaths, is commonly attributed to persistent viral infection. To date, the molecular pathogenesis of HCC remains elusive. In this study, proteomic based approaches were adopted to unravel the molecular players involved in HCC. Three quantitative approaches using 2-D DIGE, as well as cICAT and iTRAQ labels coupled with 2-DLC were concurrently used to analyze tumours from moderately- and poorly-differentiated HBV-related HCC. Data obtained from this study enabled identification of possible HCC molecular players. In addition to protein verifications, further analysis was conducted on a novel protein family, far upstream binding proteins (FUBPs). The over-expression of FUBPs in both stages of HCC is of particular interest due to their transcriptional activity on proto-oncogene, c-Myc. c-Myc plays an important role in HCC progression, especially in a viral associated carcinogenesis. It was also observed to be elevated in the tissues used in this study. Exact activators and functions of c-Myc, however remain poorly understood. Preliminary work using siRNA transfections on liver cell lines, proposes FUBPs as a possible upstream player that are involved in HBV-related HCC tumorigenesis.