Evidence mapPaperPMID 42215875Full record

ArticleBiological procedures online2026

A novel prognostic model based on MVIRGs identifies ANGPT2 as a key target driving the malignant progression of HCC.

Xian Li, Zhouli Tan, Shanru Feng, Qiang Yu, Jian Zhou, Jia Fan, Yang Xu

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Article in Biological procedures online, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Xian Li *Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Zhouli Tan *The Fifth School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Shanru Feng *Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Qiang YuDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Jian ZhouDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Jia FanDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Yang XuDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. xuyangdoctor@163.com.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82073272
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal malignancy with high recurrence and limited therapies. Microvascular invasion (MVI) is a critical prognostic factor, but its molecular mechanisms and precise predictive tools are lacking. This study aimed to identify key MVI-associated genes (MVIRGs), develop a prognostic model, and elucidate the role of ANGPT2 in HCC progression and therapeutic responses.

methodsMachine learning on multi-cohort data (TCGA, ICGC) identified MVIRGs and constructed a prognostic model. ANGPT2, the core oncogenic MVIRG, was validated clinically (IHC) and functionally (in vitro and in vivo). We analyzed its association with the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and drug sensitivity.

resultsA powerful six-MVIRG prognostic model was developed, with ANGPT2 identified as the sole oncogenic gene. Clinically, ANGPT2 was significantly overexpressed, correlating strongly with aggressive features like MVI, vascular invasion, and advanced stages, serving as a robust poor prognostic biomarker for OS and PFS. Functionally, ANGPT2 knockdown significantly inhibited HCC cell growth and migration in vitro, and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Bioinformatics revealed ANGPT2 fosters an immunosuppressive TIME, upregulating immune checkpoints (e.g., PD-L1) to mediate resistance to ICIs. High ANGPT2 expression showed a differential drug response: resistance to targeted therapies (e.g., EGFR-TKIs) but paradoxically increased sensitivity to chemotherapies (e.g., docetaxel, paclitaxel).

conclusionThis study constructed a powerful MVIRG model and identified ANGPT2 as a core oncogenic molecule. ANGPT2 drives HCC progression, mediates immune resistance, and differentially regulates drug sensitivity, making it a key biomarker for prognosis and treatment guidance.

Indexed as

ANGPT2Hepatocellular carcinomaMicrovascular invasionMVIRGsPrognostic model

Identifiers

PMID42215875
PMCPMC13377855

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.