Molecular network of HCC aggressiveness

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the main causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. It has a poor prognosis due to aggressive phenotype, and limited and insufficient treatment options. In HCCs, acquisition of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) features may account for tumor aggressiveness and chemo-resistance. Many of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are overexpressed and mutated in tumor microenvironments, promoting tumor growth and metastasis. The heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins are responsible for pathophysiological processes by transducing signals from GPCRs to downstream effectors. With the accumulation of knowledge that overexpression of specific G proteins are present in tumors, there has been an increased interest in identifyin