Transcriptomic analysis reveals the potential role of TOE1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

This study integrates bioinformatics analysis and in vitro cellular experiments to elucidate the role of TOE1 (Target of EGR1) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) progression. TOE1, a deadenylase belonging to the DEDD exonuclease superfamily, is primarily localized in the Cajal bodies of the nucleus. While the biological functions of TOE1 have been partially characterized, its role in cancer remains unclear. We analyzed TOE1 expression, its correlation with clinical pathological features, prognosis, and immune infiltration in HCC using databases and platforms such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), COSMIC, cBioPortal, and TIMER. Additionally, we validated TOE1 expression levels in clinical samples. Through the knockdown of TOE1 in HCC cell lines and subsequent RNA-seq analysis, we explored its functional role and potential molecular mechanisms in HCC malignant progression. The research focuse on uncovering the role of TOE1 in HCC development and its underlying mechanisms. Comprehensive bioinformatics interrogation revealed that TOE1 is significantly upregulated in HCC and correlates with poor patient prognosis. It may influence tumor development by modulating the stemness of tumor cells and immune cell infiltration, thereby reshaping the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, in vitro experiments suggested that TOE1 promotes HCC proliferation and metastatic potential via modulating the Hippo signaling pathway. This research highlights the pivotal role of TOE1 in HCC, indicating its promise as a novel target for early detection, therapeutic strategies, immunological intervention, and prognosis assessment in HCC. These findings provide fresh perspectives for precision medicine in the context of HCC. Overall design: To investigate the functional role of TOE1 in HepG2 cells, we performed transient siRNA-mediated knockdown of TOE1.