New study identifies promising three-lncRNA signature for early detection of non-metastatic liver cancer in Egyptian patients

A groundbreaking study published in Current Molecular Pharmacology has uncovered a novel three-lncRNA signature that could improve early diagnosis and treatment strategies for non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly in Egyptian patients. The research focused on the long non-coding RNAs HEIH, MIAT, and HOTAIR, which were found to be significantly elevated in HCC tissues compared to normal and cirrhotic liver samples.

The study, conducted on 34 patients, revealed that HEIH is upregulated early in liver pathology, while MIAT increases progressively from cirrhosis to HCC. HOTAIR, however, was specifically overexpressed in cancerous tissues, suggesting a role in malignant transformation. Both MIAT and HOTAIR levels correlated with larger tumor size and HCV-positive status, underscoring their clinical relevance.

“Our findings indicate that these lncRNAs are not only biomarkers but also active players in HCC progression,” said corresponding author Rana A. Youness. “Their combined profiling could enhance early detection and support the development of lncRNA-based therapies.”

Functional analyses in Huh-7 liver cancer cells showed that silencing HEIH, MIAT, or HOTAIR reduced colony formation and cell viability, confirming their oncogenic roles. The study proposes that a multi-lncRNA panel could complement current biomarkers like AFP, offering higher sensitivity and specificity for non-metastatic HCC diagnosis.