Topic: Molecular Pathways and Epigenetic Regulators in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, is often diagnosed at advanced stages due to its asymptomatic progression, resulting in limited therapeutic options and poor prognosis. Over the past decade, molecular pathology studies have uncovered critical roles of dysregulated signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT/mTOR) and epigenetic aberrations (e.g., DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs) in driving HCC initiation, progression, and therapy resistance.

Diverse molecular and epigenetic dysregulation drives significant patient heterogeneity, contributing to suboptimal responses to immunotherapies. Despite advancements in molecularly targeted agents (e.g., PI3K/AKT inhibitors) and immune checkpoint blockers, durable therapeutic outcomes remain rare, as epigenetic plasticity enables tumor cells to evade pathway inhibition and adapt dynamically. Emerging technologies like spatial multi-omics and single-cell sequencing unravel this complexity by mapping the spatial interplay of molecular and epigenetic networks, offering critical insights for refining targeted therapies.

This Special Issue will focus on bridging molecular insights to clinical translation, emphasizing HCC-specific pathways and epigenetic regulation. We invite contributions that explore innovative strategies for early detection, biomarker development, and personalized therapeutic regimens. Topics span from mechanistic studies of HCC biology to clinical trials evaluating novel drug combinations, gene-editing therapies, and immune-modulating agents.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

1. Molecular pathways and signaling mechanisms of HCC
2. Biomakers for early diagnosis of HCC
3. The function of histone modification in the progression of HCC
4. Epigenetic therapies and their clinical applications in HCC.
5. Metabolic reprogramming and molecular pathways in HCC
6. Immune microenvironment and epigenetic regulation of HCC
7. Precision medicine and molecular markers for HCC
8. Multi omics study and molecular pathway integration analysis of HCC
9. Application of CAR-T, oncolytic virus, and vaccine in HCC
10. Etiology-specific epitranscriptomic heterogeneity in HCC