Whole Transcriptome Sequencing of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells for Biomarker Discovery in Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus
This study aims to identify novel transcriptional biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with a specific focus on the aggressive subtype complicated by portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). We performed whole transcriptome sequencing on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from three distinct cohorts: 5 HCC patients without PVTT, 5 HCC patients with PVTT, and 5 meticulously selected healthy controls.The initial phase of this project involves a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of the sequencing data to delineate the global transcriptomic landscape and identify differentially expressed molecules (including mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs) across the comparative groups. The primary objective is to pinpoint a panel of transcriptional signatures in PBMCs that are associated with HCC pathogenesis and PVTT development. The candidate biomarkers discovered through this high-throughput sequencing approach will subsequently be validated using quantitative RT-PCR in an independent, expanded cohort to confirm their diagnostic or prognostic potential.This work provides a valuable resource for understanding the systemic immune transcriptomic alterations in HCC and may facilitate the development of non-invasive, blood-based diagnostic tools for monitoring disease progression, particularly for patients at risk of developing PVTT.