SHBs Mitigates Sorafenib-Induced Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Activation of RAF1/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway.

ABSTRACT: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with a significant association to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which has been shown to drive HCC progression. Sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor, is the first-line treatment for advanced HCC. However, recent studies indicate that HBV infection may confer resistance to sorafenib treatment. The small hepatitis B surface antigen (SHBs), the most abundant HBV viral protein, has been implicated in HCC development, yet its role in sorafenib resistance is unclear. This study demonstrates that SHBs promotes sorafenib resistance in HCC cells and xenograft models by inhibiting apoptosis. Upon sorafenib treatment, SHBs expression was found to enhance the RAF1/MEK/ERK signaling pathway, as evidenced by increased phos

SUBMITTER: Wu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12400050 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature