Full Text | PDF

J Cancer 2024; 15(13):4113-4127. doi:10.7150/jca.96800 This issue Cite

Research Paper

TARDBP is a candidate diagnostic biomarker promoting tumor progression via impacting tumor immunity and tumor microenvironment

Min-Yi Luo^1,2†, Zhe Han^3†, Jiaqi Wang^4†, Cheng Zhong^5✉, Jiancong Chen^1✉

1. Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
2. Department of Coloproctology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
3. Department of Neurology, The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, 130000, Changchun, Jilin, China.
4. Department of Neonatology, Jiangmen People's Hospital, 52900, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China.
5. Department of Orthopedics, Jiangmen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Jinan University, 52900, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China.
^†These authors contributed equally to this work.

✉ Corresponding authors: Jiancong Chen: chenjc25sysu.edu.cn; Cheng Zhong: 20216020037gzucm.edu.cn.

Abstract

In the realm of cancer research, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), TAR DNA-binding protein (TARDBP) has transitioned from being associated with neurodegenerative diseases to emerging as a significant molecule in oncology due to its aberrant expression in HCC and other malignancies. This shift underlines the versatility of TARDBP and its critical role in tumorigenesis. Our study illuminates TARDBP's universal upregulation across various cancers, indicating its involvement in fundamental oncogenic processes and potential impact on genomic instability. The relationship between TARDBP expression and tumor mutational burden (TMB) across several cancers highlights its influence on a key hallmark of cancer progression. Additionally, TARDBP's interaction with immune and inflammatory factors within the tumor microenvironment, including its association with immune-stimulatory factors and inverse relationship with immune inhibitors, suggests its role in modulating immune evasion. Clinically, TARDBP's aberrant expression correlates with adverse patient outcomes in HCC, making it a promising candidate for therapeutic targeting. The study concludes that TARDBP holds significant potential as a novel therapeutic target in HCC and possibly other malignancies, meriting further exploration to integrate TARDBP-targeted therapies into cancer treatment protocols, thereby advancing the field of precision medicine.

Citation styles

©2026 Ivyspring International Publisher. Terms of use