Abstract

An integrated as well as an innovative deferentially expressed gene profile for hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with sorafenib was established and provided several beneficial clinical hints for the drug usage. The messenger ribonucleic acid sequencing data and micro ribonucleic acid sequencing data from 114 hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with sorafenib and 226 hepatocellular carcinoma control group patients who did not receive any drug therapy were studied by differential expression, functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction analysis. Screening target genes were tested in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with sorafenib and control group. 466 differentially expressed genes were identified in patients treated with sorafenib group compared with the control group. Among these deferentially expressed genes, 57 demonstrated increased expression level while 409 displayed decreased expression pattern. 12 micro ribonucleic acids showed differential expression patterns. With further examination, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2C and thyrotropin releasing hormone, shown to be major targets for sorafenib. The potential target genes were also examined; 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2C concentration in control group hepatocellular carcinoma patients was approximately 61.43±10.5 ng.ml-1. However, after sorafenib treatment 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2C concentration decreased (25.34±6.31 ng.ml-1) (p<0.001). At the same time, thyrotropin releasing hormone concentration was 54.17±13.17 ng.ml-1 control group patients which decreased significantly in sorafenib group hepatocellular carcinoma patients (22.51±6.76 ng.ml-1 and p<0.001). 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptor 2C and thyrotropin releasing hormone can be considered as potential markers of sorafenib treatment. This study comprehensively studied the targets for sorafenib through a deep analysis of differentially expressed gene map and offered valuable references for clinical usage of the drug in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.