Unveiling the hidden regulators: how post-translational modifications influence the progression and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

TL;DR

This paper reviews how protein modifications impact liver cancer development and treatment, offering new insights for diagnosis and therapy.

Contribution

The paper systematically examines the roles of post-translational modifications in hepatocellular carcinoma, revealing novel molecular mechanisms.

Findings

Post-translational modifications dynamically regulate biological processes linked to HCC progression.

Dysregulated PTMs are closely associated with HCC development, metastasis, and treatment resistance.

Understanding PTMs offers new therapeutic strategies and diagnostic approaches for HCC.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and aggressive primary liver cancer. Due to its high incidence and fatality rates, it poses a serious threat to global public health. Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial regulatory mechanisms that occur after translation and fine-tune cellular functions. Common PTM types-including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, acetylation, methylation, glycosylation, ubiquitin-like modifications (such as UFMylation and SUMOylation), and Lactylation-affect protein activity, stability, subcellular localization, and interaction networks. These modifications dynamically regulate various biological processes in response to internal and external stimuli. Dysregulated PTMs have been intimately associated with the development, spread, and resistance to treatment of HCC in the setting of cancer. This review provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC by systematically examining the roles of PTMs. It also seeks to inform therapeutic strategies and improve diagnosis and prognostic assessment.

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