Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. The 5-year survival rate has been estimated to be less than 20% while its incidence rates have more than tripled since the 1980s. Astrocyte elevated gene-1/Metadherin (AEG-1/MTDH) has been demonstrated to have an influential role in HCC progression and the development of an aggressive phenotype. AEG-1 has been shown to be upregulated in many cancers, including HCC. Studies have shown that it plays a crucial role in the proliferation, invasion and metastasis, and evasion of apoptosis in HCC. Its relationship with proteins and pathways, such as MYC, SND1, PI3K/AKT, and other signaling pathways demonstrates its pertinent role in oncogenic development and relevance as a biomarker and therapeutic target. Recent studies have shown that AEG-1 is present in tumor tissues, and the anti-AEG-1 antibody is detected in the blood of cancer patients, demonstrating its viability as a diagnostic/prognostic marker. This review paper shines light on recent findings regarding the molecular implications of AEG-1, with emphasis on its role of regulating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a key predisposing factor for HCC, new treatment strategies targeting AEG-1, and challenges associated with analyzing this intriguing molecule.
肝细胞癌（HCC）是癌症相关死亡的主要原因之一。其五年生存率估计低于20%，而自20世纪80年代以来，发病率已增长超过三倍。星形胶质细胞升高基因-1/异黏蛋白（AEG-1/MTDH）已被证实在HCC进展及侵袭表型发展中具有重要影响。研究表明，AEG-1在包括HCC在内的多种癌症中表达上调，并在HCC的增殖、侵袭转移及凋亡逃逸过程中发挥关键作用。其与MYC、SND1、PI3K/AKT等蛋白及信号通路的相互作用，揭示了其在肿瘤发生发展中的核心地位，并凸显其作为生物标志物和治疗靶点的重要价值。近期研究发现，AEG-1存在于肿瘤组织中，且癌症患者血液中可检测到抗AEG-1抗体，这证实了其作为诊断/预后标志物的可行性。本综述聚焦AEG-1分子机制的最新研究进展，重点阐述其在调节代谢功能障碍相关脂肪性肝炎（MASH）——HCC关键易感因素中的作用，探讨靶向AEG-1的新型治疗策略，并分析该分子研究面临的挑战。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家