Endotrophin and CD44-Mediated Heterotypic Signaling Mediates Tumor-Stroma Crosstalk and Facilitates Malignant Progression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

This study profiles gene expression changes in the human SK-Hep1 cell line, a mesenchymal-like liver-derived cell model, under conditions of differential sorafenib responsiveness. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed on sorafenib-sensitive (SS) and sorafenib-resistant (SR) cells treated with control siRNA (siCtrl), COL6A3 siRNA (siCOL6A3), or siCOL6A3 combined with recombinent endotrophin (rhETP). The data were generated to characterize transcriptional patterns associated with altered proliferation-and survival-related phenotypes across defined experimental conditions. Overall design: Bulk RNA sequencing was performed on human SK-Hep1 cell line, categorized as sorafenib-sensitive (SS) or sorafenib-resistant (SR). SR cells were further treated with control (siCtrl) or COL6A3-targeting siRNA (siCOL6A3), with or without supplementation of recombinant endotrophin (rhETP). Comparative transcriptomic analyses were performed across the defined experimental groups to assess treatment-dependent transcriptional changes.