Association of KLF3 Gene Polymorphism with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality around the world. Over the years various biomarkers have been identified which can play a role in the detection and treatment. But there remains an urgent need for novel, more specific and effective biomarkers that can help in the detection of liver cancer. KLF3 gene expression has previously been associated with cancer development as suggested by previous studies where its role has been implicated in cancer signalling pathways. This study aims to investigate the expression levels of KLF3 and its pathogenicity in liver cancer by analysing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), predicting its three-dimensional structure, examining subcellular localization, and assessing its interactions with other proteins. The study demonstrates a significant association of pathogenic non-synonymous KLF3 SNPs with liver cancer by analysing genotyping data from liver cancer patients and healthy controls, where the highest frequency distribution was reported by the homozygous genotype in patient samples. The study also examines patterns in relative expression of biomarkers of the gene KLF3, their correlation with various clinical features as well as risk factors associated with liver cancer. The study lays the foundation that KLF3 gene expression has a significant role in carcinogenesis as its overexpression is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma.