Plectin-mediated cytoskeletal crosstalk as a target for inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma growth and metastasis.

A preprint abstract from biorxiv.org discusses the role of plectin, a cytoskeletal crosslinker protein, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary malignancy of the liver. The study found that elevated levels of plectin in liver tumors correlated with poor prognosis for HCC patients. Genetic and pharmacological inactivation of plectin suppressed the initiation and growth of HCC, inhibited the invasion potential of HCC cells, and reduced metastatic outgrowth in the lung. The study suggests that targeting plectin and disrupting mechanical homeostasis may be a new therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment. However, it is important to note that this preprint has not been peer-reviewed. [Extracted from the article]