In-silico Identification of Potential Therapeutic Targets against Virus Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background Chemo resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma is a challenge that leads to a high mortality rate. The discovery of novel drugs and drug targets is crucial to develop combination therapy. The study reports drug targets based on an ‘omics’-based approach and studied in silico binding of bufalin compound to potential drug target. Method Gene expression data sets from tumours of HCC patients were compared with that of health control. Differentially expressed genes in tumour tissues were analysed for gene ontology and metabolic pathways. Hub genes were identified using a network biology approach and studied as potential drug targets. Result A total of 104 common genes were identified from 3 datasets, from which 54 genes were upregulated and 50 genes were downregulated. Ten Hub genes were identified, which were all over-expressed in the tumour tissues and correlated with poor survival rates. Molecular docking result suggests Hub protein thymidylate synthase binding to anticancer agent bufalin. Conclusion A total of 10 potential anti-cancer therapeutic targets were identified using ‘omics’ and network biology approach. Among that thymidylate synthase was binding with a potential anti-cancer drug bufalin.