Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40252200›Full record

ArticleDiscover oncology2025

Plasma protein levels and hepatocellular carcinoma: a Mendelian randomization study with drug screening implications.

Longhui Xie, Dekun Song, Jianwei Lan, Pengpeng Liu, Shuang Qin, Yinkuan Ning, Quanyan Liu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Discover oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

7 authors.

Longhui Xie *Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Dekun Song *Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Jianwei Lan *Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Pengpeng LiuDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Shuang QinYongzhou Central Hospital, Yongzhou, Hunan, China.
Yinkuan NingDepartment of Interventional Vascular Surgery, Shaoyang Central Hospital Shaoyang, Shaoyang, Hunan, China. nyinkuan@163.com.
Quanyan LiuDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. spsslqy@vip.126.com.

Funding

the National Natural Science Foundation of China 82372902the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province 2023JJ50243the science and technology planning project of Yongzhou 2023YZ051
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Identifying key proteins and potential therapeutic agents is critical for improving treatment outcomes.

methodsWe employed Mendelian randomization to identify proteins associated with HCC risk and utilized drug enrichment and molecular docking analyses to discover potential therapeutic agents. The efficacy of identified drugs was evaluated in vitro using immune-tumor co-culture systems and in vivo in a murine HCC model. Single-cell expression profiling and clinical sample analyses were conducted to explore expression patterns.

resultsOur analyses identified 16 proteins linked to HCC pathogenesis. Among the therapeutic agents tested, Belinostat significantly enhanced T cell-mediated cytotoxicity against HCC cells and effectively reduced tumor growth in vivo. Single-cell analysis revealed significant modulation of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, suggesting potential mechanisms for the observed therapeutic effects.

conclusionThis study highlights the potential of Belinostat as a promising therapeutic agent for HCC. By modulating immune responses and tumor growth, Belinostat offers a novel approach to HCC treatment, warranting further clinical investigation to validate its efficacy and therapeutic potential.

Indexed as

BelinostatHepatocellular carcinomaMendelian randomizationODC1Single-cell analysisT cells

Identifiers

PMID40252200
PMCPMC12009266

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.