Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40513659›Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced research2026

SAE1 emerges as a pan-cancer driver and key regulator of HCC metastasis.

Hao Zhuang, Yamei Dang, Li Sun, Dandan Hong, Shujie Zhai, Xiaowen Shao, Guanchen Liu, Xiao Sun, Chuan Dong, Xuda Ma and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of advanced research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. BMJ open gastroenterology · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
  3. METTL3-mediated mMolecular cancer · 2026
    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

15 authors.

Hao ZhuangDepartment of Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China.
Yamei DangDepartment of Medical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, PR. China.
Li SunDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, China.
Dandan HongDepartment of Pathogen Biology and Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Shujie ZhaiDepartment of Pathogen Biology and Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Xiaowen ShaoDepartment of Pathogen Biology and Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Guanchen LiuDepartment of Pathogen Biology and Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Xiao SunDepartment of Pathogen Biology and Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Chuan DongState Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300 Zhejiang, China.
Xuda MaDepartment of Pathogen Biology and Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Tingting ZhangDepartment of Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China.
Nanmu YangDepartment of Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China.
Feng HanDepartment of Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China.
Wen WeiBiodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. Electronic address: wwei39@asu.edu.
Yongmei LiDepartment of Pathogen Biology and Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China. Electronic address: liym@tmu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionDysregulation of SUMOylation is implicated in cancer progression. While the role of SUMO-activating enzyme (SAE) and its mechanisms in cancer remain unclear.

objectivesWe investigated the role of SAE subunit 1 (SAE1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis.

methodsWe analyzed SAE1 expression across 28 pan-cancer subtypes. SAE1 complexes were identified and characterized using interactome analysis, Co-IP, immunofluorescence, and AlphaFold3 predictions. These findings were validated using in situ and vein tail injection xenograft mouse models, HCC organoids, and IHC using HCC tissue samples.

resultsIncreased SAE1 expression was correlated with poorer prognosis and higher driver gene mutation frequencies in six pan-cancers, particularly HCC. We identified a novel interaction between SAE1 and yin-yang 1 (YY1), where SAE1 enhances YY1 stability and activity, leading to Wnt3a transcription and subsequent activation of the Wnt pathway, eventually promoting cell migration and invasion. Moreover, a positive correlation between SAE1 and Wnt3a expression was confirmed in HCC organoids and HCC tissue samples.

conclusionThis study established SAE1 as a novel independent prognostic biomarker in multiple cancers and identified its mechanistic role in HCC progression, suggesting its potential value for future translational research toward therapeutic development.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularLiver NeoplasmsAnimalsBiomarkers, TumorCell Line, TumorCell MovementFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMaleMiceNeoplasm MetastasisPrognosisWnt Signaling PathwayYY1 Transcription FactorBiomarkers, TumorYY1 protein, humanYY1 Transcription FactorPan-cancerSAE1TranscriptionWnt3aYY1

Identifiers

PMID40513659
PMCPMC12957792

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.