Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39652303›Full record

ArticleCellular oncology (Dordrecht, Netherlands)2025

Regulatory factor X1 promotes sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma by transcriptional regulation of BECN1.

Zhiwen Yang, Yichuan Yuan, Yi Niu, Dinglan Zuo, Wenwu Liu, Kai Li, Yunxing Shi, Zhiyu Qiu, Keren Li, Zhu Lin and 8 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cellular oncology (Dordrecht, Netherlands), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Zhiwen Yang *State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Yichuan Yuan *State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Yi Niu *State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Dinglan ZuoState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Wenwu LiuState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Kai LiState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Yunxing ShiState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Zhiyu QiuState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Keren LiState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Zhu LinState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Chengrui ZhongState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Zhenkun HuangState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Wei HeState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Xinyuan GuanDepartment of Clinical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Yunfei YuanState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Weian Zeng *State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China. zengwa@sysucc.org.cn.
Jiliang Qiu *State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China. qiujl@sysucc.org.cn.
Binkui Li *State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China. libk@sysucc.org.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82103601National Natural Science Foundation of China 82272887
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSorafenib is a commonly used first-line kinase-targeted drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients suffering from limited efficacy. Emerging evidence indicates that sorafenib exerts anti-cancer activity through the induction of ferroptosis in HCC cells, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear.

methodsThe whole transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were used to screen for target genes. The expression and subcellular localization of regulatory factor X1 (RFX1) were determined through immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, PCR and western blot analyses. The impact of RFX1 on HCC cell growth was assessed using CCK8, colony formation assays, cell death assays, and animal experiments. Glutathione measurement, iron assay and lipid peroxidation detection assays were performed to investigate ferroptosis of HCC cells. The regulatory mechanism of RFX1 in HCC was investigated by sgRFX1, co-IP, ChIP and luciferase experiments. Immunohistochemical and survival analyses were performed to examine the prognostic significance of RFX1 in HCC.

resultsIn this study, we found that RFX1 promote ferroptosis in HCC cells. Further, we showed that sorafenib induces cell death through RFX1-mediated ferroptosis in HCC cells. The enhancing effect of RFX1 on HCC cell ferroptosis is largely dependent on inhibition of cystine/glutamate antiporter (system Xc-) activity through the BECN-SLC7A11 axis, where RFX1 directly binds to the promoter region of BECN1 and upregulates BECN1 expression. In addition, a STAT3-RFX1-BECN1 signalling loop was found to promote RFX1 expression in HCC cells.

conclusionsOur study reveals a novel mechanism underlying sorafenib-induced HCC cell death.

Indexed as

Beclin-1Carcinoma, HepatocellularFerroptosisGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticLiver NeoplasmsRegulatory Factor X1SorafenibTranscription, GeneticAmino Acid Transport System y+AnimalsCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationFemaleHumansMaleMiceAmino Acid Transport System y+Beclin-1Regulatory Factor X1RFX1 protein, humanSorafenibBECN1FerroptosisHepatocellular carcinomaRFX1Sorafenib

Identifiers

PMID39652303
PMCPMC11996997

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.