Identification of MTCH1 as a novel prognostic indicator and therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) emerges as the third leading cause of cancer mortality, contributing to approximately 830,000 deaths annually. The mechanisms driving its pathogenesis remain largely elusive. Through bioinformatic scrutiny, Mitochondrial Carrier 1 (MTCH1), a component of the mitochondrial carrier family, has been pinpointed as potentially pivotal in HCC evolution. Examination of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database indicated a pronounced increase in MTCH1 expression within HCC tissues versus normal liver counterparts. Subsequent analyses, utilizing both Kaplan-Meier mapper and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) datasets, associated elevated MTCH1 levels with reduced overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Complementary in vitro assessments confirmed that MTCH1 downregulation suppresses HCC cell proliferation and notably diminishes HCC xenograft tumor growth in murine models. Additional explorations, including Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), STRING database interrogation, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) experiments, suggest MTCH1's involvement in HCC progression via the CDK-RB-E2F signaling axis. Collectively, these insights endorse MTCH1 as a promising therapeutic target for HCC, underscoring its significance in the disease's molecular framework and potential treatment innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]