{
  "abstract": "Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and lethal liver cancer primarily associated with viral infections like hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as non-viral causes. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of these subtypes is essential for identifying potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Methods: In this study, an integrated bioinformatics approach was used to analyze publicly available datasets related to HBV-associated, HCV-associated, and non-viral HCC. Functional enrichment analyses and protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed to identify key hub genes. Results: Our analysis identified dysregulated genes across all HCC subtypes. Among these, GPC3 and SPARCL1 were significantly upregulated, while ALB and HNF4α were downregulated, and are involved in critical cancer pathways such as Wnt, PI3K/Akt, and p53 signaling. Functional analysis linked these DEGs to essential processes in tumorigenesis, including cell cycle regulation and immune modulation. Notably, SPARCL1 has been identified as a potential inhibitor of SPP1, a key driver of HCC. Validation using databases such as GEPIA and TNMplot confirmed the dysregulation of these genes in numerous HCC tissue samples and their significant association with patient prognosis. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of HCC pathogenesis by suggesting a shared gene profile between viral and non-viral forms, paving the way for universal diagnostic markers and targeted therapies while highlighting the need for further experimental validation to advance precision medicine in HCC.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Advanced Medical Technologies, Royan Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran",
    "Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran",
    "Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran",
    "Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran",
    "Department of Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Royan Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran",
    "Department of Cell Engineering, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran",
    "Bone and Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran",
    "Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Melika Zamanian"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Niloofar Bajool"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Yasamin Haghir-Sharif-Zamini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Seyedeh-Sanaz Araban"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Farbod Nassiri"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Seyedeh-Nasim Mirbahari"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Rayhaneh Ahangar-Parvin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Roshanak Shams"
    },
    {
      "name": "Massoud Vosough"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sara Taleahmad"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fq2nz0t9nztwf.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0349647",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "fq2nz0t9nztwf",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0349647",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2721|Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Prognosis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cell processes/Cell cycle and cell division"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Signal transduction/Cell signaling/PPAR signaling"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/Gene expression"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/Gene expression/Viral gene expression"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/Microbial genetics/Viral genetics/Viral gene expression"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Flaviviruses/Hepacivirus/Hepatitis C virus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Hepatitis viruses/Hepatitis C virus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Virology/Viral genetics/Viral gene expression"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/RNA viruses/Flaviviruses/Hepacivirus/Hepatitis C virus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Flaviviruses/Hepacivirus/Hepatitis C virus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Hepatitis viruses/Hepatitis C virus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Gastroenterology and hepatology/Liver diseases/Hepatocellular carcinoma"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Basic cancer research/Metastasis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms/Carcinoma/Hepatocellular carcinoma"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms/Gastrointestinal tumors/Hepatocellular carcinoma"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Carcinogenesis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Metastasis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Flaviviruses/Hepacivirus/Hepatitis C virus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Hepatitis viruses/Hepatitis C virus"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7225390277",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-06",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fq2nz0t9nztwf.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-07T12:20:24Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0349647",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0349647"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:microbiology",
      "subfield": "microbiology"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:oncology",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Commonly expressed key driver genes in the pathogenesis of viral and non-viral liver cancer",
  "title_text": "Commonly expressed key driver genes in the pathogenesis of viral and non-viral liver cancer",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-08T12:20:48Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fq2nz0t9nztwf",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}