Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41006440›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

LIMK1 is a prognosis and treatment biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Nan-Fang Jiang, Zhe Zhou, Hai-Ping Zhang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Nan-Fang JiangDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hubei No. 3 People's Hospital of Jianghan University, Wuhan City, 430000, Hubei Province, China.
Zhe ZhouDepartment of Radiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan City, 430079, Hubei Province, China.
Hai-Ping ZhangDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hubei No. 3 People's Hospital of Jianghan University, Wuhan City, 430000, Hubei Province, China. 592005427@qq.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance and underlying biological mechanisms of LIM kinase 1 (LIMK1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using multi-omics data from TCGA and ICGC cohorts, we analyzed LIMK1 expression and its prognostic value. Clinical validation was performed via immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray specimens. A multivariate Cox model integrating LIMK1 and clinicopathological features was constructed and evaluated using machine learning. Tumor immune microenvironment was profiled using multiple immune deconvolution algorithms. Immunotherapy cohorts and drug sensitivity data were leveraged to assess therapeutic implications. LIMK1 was significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues across all cohorts and correlated with poor overall survival (TCGA HR = 2.26, P < 0.001; ICGC HR = 2.23, P = 0.011; in-house HR = 2.09, P = 0.004). The prognostic Cox model integrating LIMK1 achieved high accuracy (1-year AUC = 0.90) and decision curve analysis showed the potential for clinical decision making. High LIMK1 expression was linked to an immunosuppressive microenvironment, characterized by elevated immunosuppressive cells (MDSCs, M2 macrophages, fibroblasts, and regulatory T cells) and immune checkpoint markers (PDCD1, CTLA4). HCC patients with high LIMK1 expression showed poor responses to immunotherapy but increased sensitivity to chemotherapy agents, including sorafenib, paclitaxel, docetaxel and 5-fluorouracil. In conclusion, LIMK1 serves as a promising biomarker in HCC, stratifying patients by prognosis and therapeutic response.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorCarcinoma, HepatocellularLim KinasesLiver NeoplasmsFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisTumor MicroenvironmentBiomarkers, TumorLIMK1 protein, humanLim KinasesBiomarkerHepatocellular carcinomaImmunotherapyLIMK1Tumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID41006440
PMCPMC12475169

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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.