Discussions

The authors used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to identify a noncoding RNA (ncRNA) called LINC00968 that mediates resistance to sorafenib treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Sorafenib is a drug that inhibits multiple kinases involved in cancer growth and survival, but most HCC patients develop resistance to it after an initial response. The authors of the paper found that LINC00968 was highly expressed in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells and that knocking down LINC00968 sensitized them to sorafenib-induced apoptosis. They also showed that LINC00968 interacted with a protein called YBX1 and regulated its nuclear localization and transcriptional activity. YBX1 is known to be involved in various aspects of cancer biology, such as proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. The authors suggested that LINC00968 could be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for overcoming sorafenib resistance in HCC patients.