Hepatocellular carcinoma
Core of basic research: Explore the molecular cascade of progression from chronic hepatitis (HBV/HCV) and liver cirrhosis to liver cancer, including the oncogenic effects of HBV/HCV viral proteins, TERT promoter mutations, HGF/c-Met pathway activation, and the synergistic effects of metabolic reprogramming and inflammatory pathways (STAT3).
Core key proteins: p53 (tumor suppressor gene, inactivation by mutation), β-Catenin (activates Wnt pathway to promote proliferation), HGF/c-Met (hepatocyte growth factor/receptor promoting invasion), VEGF (core angiogenic factor), STAT3 (inflammatory pathway transcription factor, activation promotes cancer), Akt/mTOR (signaling pathway regulating survival), TERT (telomerase, enhanced immortalization upon mutation).