Tissue Circular RNA_0004018 and 0003570 as Novel Prognostic Biomarkers for Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Genes (Basel). 2023 Oct 20;14(10):1963. doi: 10.3390/genes14101963.

Abstract

The clinical significance of hsa_circ_0004018 and hsa_circ_0003570 in patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) is unclear. We aimed to explore the clinical significance and prognostic utility of these two circular RNAs (circRNAs) in patients with HBV-HCC. Based on 86 paired tissue samples of HCC and adjacent non-HCC, the relative expression profiles of hsa_circ_0004018 and hsa_circ_0003570 were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions. The cut-off values were the median expression of each of the two circRNAs in 86 patients with HBV-HCC. The combination group comprised patients with high levels of the two circRNAs. Clinicopathological features, body composition profiles at the L3 level, and survival rates were investigated. The expression of hsa_circ_0004018 and hsa_circ_0003570 was downregulated in HCC tissues compared with non-HCC tissues. High expression levels of hsa_circ_0003570 (hazard ratio (HR), 0.437; p = 0.009) and hsa_circ_0004018 (HR, 0.435; p = 0.005) were inversely independent risk factors for overall and progression-free survival in patients with HBV-HCC, whereas the combination group was also an inversely independent risk factor for overall (HR, 0.399; p = 0.005) and progression-free survival (HR, 0.422; p = 0.003) in patients with HBV-HCC. The combination of hsa_circ_0003570 and hsa_circ_0004018 may be a potential prognostic biomarker for HBV-HCC.

Keywords: circular RNA; hepatitis B virus; hepatocellular carcinoma; prognosis; sarcopenia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Hepatitis B* / complications
  • Hepatitis B* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA, Circular / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Circular
  • RNA
  • Biomarkers, Tumor

Grants and funding

This research was supported in part by a grant from the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation (NRF) of the Korean government (grant numbers: 2019M3E5D1A02068089, 2021R1G1A1094767 to MKK) and by a grant from the National Research Foundation (NRF) grants funded by the Korean government (2019R1A2C1083892, 2021R1A5A2021614 to KH).