Multi-omic analysis of microRNA-mediated regulation reveals a proliferative axis involving miR-10b in fibrolamellar carcinoma

Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is an aggressive liver cancer with low survival rates and no standard-of-care. The vast majority of FLC patients carry a causative somatic mutation that leads to the gene fusion, DNAJB1-PRKACA. To work toward novel therapeutic strategies, it is important to understand the mechanisms underlying FLC etiology and progression. To that end, in this study, we analyzed a large sample cohort (52 patients) using multiple genome-scale assays to define genes subject primarily to post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs. These studies revealed a candidate master microRNA regulator in FLC, miR-10b. Functional experiments in cells established from a patient-derived xenograft model revealed that miR-10b contributes to FLC cell metabolic health and proliferation. Multi-omic comparison of small RNAseq, RNAseq, and ChROseq data from liver tissue from fibrolamellar carcinoma patients.