Evidence mapPaperPMID 42428344Full record

ArticleOncology letters2026

Air pollution and hepatocellular carcinoma: Integrated network toxicology, machine learning, molecular docking and multiomics analysis.

Xiaorong Wang, Huihao Qin, Jing Jing, Yun Liu, Lei Guo, Hongquan Liu, Wei Zhang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

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

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Xiaorong WangThe Third Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China.
Huihao QinDepartment of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210028, P.R. China.
Jing JingDepartment of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210028, P.R. China.
Yun LiuThe Third Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China.
Lei GuoThe Third Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China.
Hongquan LiuDepartment of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210028, P.R. China.
Wei ZhangDepartment of Interventional Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210028, P.R. China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Air pollution is closely related to the incidence and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the mechanisms remain elusive. Therefore, using network toxicology and molecular docking analysis, the present study aimed to identify candidate molecular pathways potentially linking 10 air pollutants (APs) and HCC through machine learning and multi-omics analyses. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, differential gene expression analysis and multiple online databases, AP-related and HCC-related genes (AP-HCC-Gs) were obtained for functional and pathway enrichment analyses. A total of 101 combinations of 10 machine learning algorithms were applied to construct an AP-related and HCC-related prognostic signature (AP-HCC-PS), and three machine learning algorithms were used to screen AP-related and HCC-related diagnostic markers (AP-HCC-DMs). Based on the AP-HCC-PS and AP-HCC-DMs, molecular docking and nomogram analyses were conducted. The AP-HCC-PS and AP-HCC-DMs were intersected, and single-cell RNA, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, small interfering RNA, wound healing and immune cell infiltration analyses were performed. A total of 43 AP-HCC-Gs were identified, which were mainly involved in cell proliferation, oxidative stress and the immune response. The AP-HCC-PS (seven AP-HCC-Gs) and two AP-HCC-DMs showed good prognostic and diagnostic value. Molecular docking analysis suggested the potential binding affinity between these targets and APs. The hub gene proteasome 20S subunit β5 (PSMB5) was highly expressed in regulatory T cells (Tregs) and positively associated with Treg infiltration. AP exposure may be associated with HCC incidence through two AP-HCC-DMs and with prognosis through seven AP-HCC-Gs, with PSMB5 potentially representing an important candidate gene in HCC progression. The present study provided a multi-dimensional analytical framework for identifying candidate genes and pathways potentially linking APs to HCC, thereby advancing hypotheses regarding environmental carcinogenesis.

Indexed as

air pollutantshepatocellular carcinomamachine learningmolecular dockingnetwork toxicology

Identifiers

PMID42428344
PMCPMC13347180

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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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.