Reveals farnesyl diphosphate synthase enhances HCC proliferation and survival, suggesting new treatment options.
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by metabolic reprogramming that supports tumour growth and survival. This study identifies farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FDPs), a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, as a critical regulator of HCC proliferation and apoptosis. Methods We applied bioinformatics analysis through TCGA and GSE database to identify the expression of FDPs within HCC patients. Then, mechanistic studies were conducted including Western blots, apoptosis assay, RT‐qPCR, rescue assay, RNA‐sequencing, in vivo study to prove the role of FDPs in regulating HCC progression. Results FDPs was found to be significantly upregulated in HCC tissues, and its down‐regulation promotes tumour cell apoptosis while inhibiting tumour cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we identified FDPs regulate glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) by RNA sequencing, bioinformatics prediction, and rescue experiments, indicating its involvement in glycolysis regulation in tumour cells. The identification of this FDPs–G6PD axis suggests a novel metabolic pathway contributing to HCC development. Conclusion In summary, this study highlights FDPs play an essential oncogenic role in HCC, linking it to metabolic reprogramming and tumour survival. These findings establish FDPs as a promising therapeutic target, offering a foundation for further exploration of its regulatory mechanisms and potential clinical applications.
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Zhao et al. (2026) studied this question.
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