Multifaceted role of FAM210B in hepatocellular carcinoma - Implications for tumour progression, microenvironment modulation and therapeutic selection

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Asher

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common, lethal liver cancer with complex causes and limited treatment options. FAM210B, reported in multiple cancers, shows unclear expression patterns, functions, and links to patient outcomes and therapy resistance. This study used pan-cancer expression, subcellular localization, and functional assays to assess proliferation, invasion, migration, enrichment in biological pathways, and effects on the immune microenvironment. It further examined single-cell expression, drug sensitivity, and associations with genomic instability, immunotherapy efficacy, and immune checkpoints, finding improved survival with higher FAM210B and immune-therapy responsiveness relationships.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Methods

Public data acquisition

DOI: 10. 1111/jcmm.70031 OR I G I NAL ART I C L E Multifaceted role of FAM210B in hepatocellular carcinoma: Implications for tumour progression, microenvironment modulation and therapeutic selection Xianzhu Pan | Jun Xu | Yuanqin Zhou Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, China Correspondence Yuanqin Zhou, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, China. Email: [zyq@ahyz.edu.cn](zyq@ahyz.edu.cn) Funding information University Natural Science Research Key Project of Anhui Province, Grant/Award Number: 2022AH052321 Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and lethal liver cancer characterized by complex aetiology and limited treatment options. FAM210B, implicated in various cancers, is noteworthy for its potential role in the progression and treatment response of HCC. Yet, its expression patterns, functional impacts and correlations with patient outcomes and resistance to therapy are not well understood. We employed a comprehensive methodology to explore the role of FAM210B in HCC, analysing its expression across cancers, subcellular localization and impacts on cell proliferation, invasion, migration, biological enrichment and the immune microenvironment. Additionally, we investigated its expression in single cells, drug sensitivity and relationships with genomic instability, immunotherapy efficacy and key immune checkpoints. While FAM210B expression varied across cancers, there was no notable difference between HCC and normal tissues. Elevated levels of FAM210B were associated with improved survival outcomes. Subcellular analysis located FAM210B in the plasma membrane and cytosol. FAM210B was generally downregulated in HCC, and its suppression significantly enhanced cell proliferation, invasion and migration. Biological enrichment analysis linked FAM210B to metabolic and immune response pathways. Moreover, its expression modified the immune microenvironment of HCC, affecting drug responsiveness and immunotherapy outcomes. High expression levels of FAM202B correlated with increased resistance to sunitinib and enhanced responsiveness to immunotherapy, as evidenced by associations with tumour mutation burden, PDCD1, CTLA4 and TIDE scores. FAM210B exerts a complex influence on HCC, affecting tumour cell behaviour, metabolic pathways, the immune microenvironment and responses to therapy. K E Y WO R D S drug sensitivity, FAM210B, hepatocellular carcinoma, immunotherapy, tumour microenvironment This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2024 The Author(s) . Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. J Cell Mol Med. 2024;28:e70031 . [https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.70031](https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.70031) [wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jcmm](wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jcmm) 1 of 13 1 | INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant form of primary liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.1,2 It commonly arises in individuals with chronic liver conditions such as cirrhosis, often due to hepatitis B or C virus infections, alcoholic liver disease or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).3 The development of HCC involves a complex interplay of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors that promote liver cell malignancy.4,5 Early symptoms are typically absent, complicating early detection efforts.6 Treatment varies, ranging from curative approaches like surgery and liver transplantation in the early stages to palliative treatments such as systemic therapies and transarterial chemoembolization in advanced stages.7–9 Despite these options, the prognosis for HCC patients

FAQs

What was the main goal of the study on FAM210B in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)?

To comprehensively analyze the role of FAM210B in HCC, including expression, subcellular localization, functional effects on HCC cells, and connections to the immune microenvironment, drug sensitivity, and therapeutic response.

How did FAM210B expression relate to patient outcomes in the study?

Higher FAM210B levels were associated with improved survival outcomes. The analysis also linked expression patterns with immune microenvironment changes and therapy responsiveness.

Where was FAM210B localized in the cells, and what functional effects did its suppression show?

Subcellular analysis located FAM210B in the plasma membrane and cytosol. FAM210B suppression generally downregulated in HCC and significantly enhanced cell proliferation, invasion, and migration.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Asher