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Top 200 marker genes down-regulated in the 'proliferation' subclass of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); characterized by increased proliferation, high levels of serum AFP [GeneID=174], and chromosomal instability.

PAG Title Top 200 marker genes down-regulated in the 'proliferation' subclass of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); characterized by increased proliferation, high levels of serum AFP [GeneID=174], and chromosomal instability.
PAG ID MAX000461
Type A
Source Link MSigDB
Publication Reference NA
PAG Description Hepatocellular carcinomas represent the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The vast majority of cases arise in the context of chronic liver injury due to hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection. To identify genetic mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis, we characterized copy number alterations and gene expression profiles from the same set of tumors associated with hepatitis C virus. Most tumors harbored 1q gain, 8q gain, or 8p loss, with occasional alterations in 13 additional chromosome arms. In addition to amplifications at 11q13 in 6 of 103 tumors, 4 tumors harbored focal gains at 6p21 incorporating vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). Fluorescence in situ hybridization on an independent validation set of 210 tumors found 6p21 high-level gains in 14 tumors, as well as 2 tumors with 6p21 amplifications. Strikingly, this locus overlapped with copy gains in 4 of 371 lung adenocarcinomas. Overexpression of VEGFA via 6p21 gain in hepatocellular carcinomas suggested a novel, non-cell-autonomous mechanism of oncogene activation. Hierarchical clustering of gene expression among 91 of these tumors identified five classes, including CTNNB1, proliferation, IFN-related, a novel class defined by polysomy of chromosome 7, and an unannotated class. These class labels were further supported by molecular data; mutations in CTNNB1 were enriched in the CTNNB1 class, whereas insulin-like growth factor I receptor and RPS6 phosphorylation were enriched in the proliferation class. The enrichment of signaling pathway alterations in gene expression classes provides insights on hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis. Furthermore, the prevalence of VEGFA high-level gains in multiple tumor types suggests indications for clinical trials of antiangiogenic therapies.
Species Homo sapiens
nCoCo Score 121
Base PAG ID MAX000461
Human Phenotyte Annotation
Curator PAGER curation team
Curator Contact PAGER-contact@googlegroups.com
Gene ID Gene symbol Gene name RP_score
Gene A Gene B Source SCORE

Gene A Gene B Mechanism Source
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