DEPDC5 Alteration and its Role in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

ABSTRACT: DEPDC5 is a gene part of the DEP domain containing protein 5 and is a part of the GATOR1 protein complex that controls the mTORC1 Pathway. Mutations in the DEPDC5 gene can lead to mTORC1 being overactivated, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation or growth, which can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma taking place. While there is a clear understanding that there is a connection between DEPDC5 and different types of cancer and diseases, the role of DEPDC5 in hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer needs more exploration. The paper attempts to explore and analyze the connection between hepatocellular carcinoma and mutation in the DEPDC5 gene using various resources, including but not limited to the UCSC Genome Browser, NCBI, Human Protein Atlas, CBioPortal, and FireBrowse. When analyzing these various resources related to both hepatocellular carcinoma and DEPDC5,  it is shown that mutation and deletion of the DEPDC5 gene are correlated with many patients with hepatocellular carcinoma having a mutated and deleted DEPDC5 gene. It can also be seen that these mutations of the DEPDC5 Gene lead to overactivation of the mTORC1 Pathway, reduced autophagy, and other attributes that progress tumor growth, showing DEPDC5’s role as a tumor suppressor gene. In conclusion, DEPDC5 mutations and deletions have a clear connection to hepatocellular carcinoma, as this gene serves as a tumor suppressor in liver tissue. In future practices, DEPDC5 can be a gene that is used as a biomarker when testing for hepatocellular carcinoma.