Microscopic view of liver cancer cells with DNA strand being silenced.

Can Silencing a Gene Stop Liver Cancer? The Promise of TPX2 Research

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Scientists explore how targeting the TPX2 gene could revolutionize the treatment of hepatoma cells, offering new hope for liver cancer patients."

Liver cancer stands as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. The statistics reveal an alarming trend, with liver cancer incidence sharply increasing between 2003 and 2012. This escalating health crisis demands urgent attention and innovative treatment strategies.

While advances in combination therapies, particularly those involving surgery, have improved the five-year survival rate for liver cancer patients, challenges persist. Tumor recurrence, metastasis, and other complications continue to pose significant threats, underscoring the need for more effective and targeted treatments.

A promising area of research focuses on Targeting Protein for Xklp2 (TPX2), a microtubule-associated protein crucial for cell cycle regulation. TPX2 is often found to be overexpressed in various human tumors. Scientists are exploring whether TPX2 could participate in liver cancer development.

TPX2: A Key Player in Liver Cancer?

Microscopic view of liver cancer cells with DNA strand being silenced.

Recent studies have illuminated the critical role of TPX2 in liver cancer. The study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of action of targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) in liver cancer, we compared TPX messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in liver cancer tissue samples and adjacent normal liver tissue samples as well as in human liver cancer cell lines and nonmalignant cell line by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). TPX2 gene was silenced in HepG2 cells by transfection with the lentiviral vector expressing TPX2-targeting short hairpin RNA (shRNA), and the knockdown efficiency was evaluated by RT-qPCR.

The research indicates that TPX2 mRNA levels are significantly higher in liver cancer tissues and cell lines compared to their noncancerous counterparts. This suggests that TPX2 may play a vital role in the development and progression of liver cancer.

Increased TPX2 Expression: Liver cancer tissues and cell lines show significantly higher levels of TPX2 mRNA compared to normal liver tissues and non-malignant cell lines.
TPX2 Silencing Effects: Silencing TPX2 in HepG2 cells led to reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis (cell death).
Impact on Key Proteins: TPX2 knockdown significantly downregulates the protein levels of c-Myc and cyclin D1, while upregulating caspase-3, all of which are involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis.
Wnt/β-catenin Pathway: Silencing TPX2 inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is crucial for cell growth and survival.
XAV-939 Treatment: Treatment with XAV-939, a Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor, reduces HepG2 cell proliferation and increases apoptosis.
LiCl Treatment: Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway with LiCl attenuates the anti-proliferative and apoptosis-promoting effects of TPX2 knockdown.

Further experiments involving lentivirus-mediated silencing of the TPX2 gene showed promising results in inhibiting the proliferation and inducing apoptosis in hepatoma cells. This was achieved by targeting the Wnt signaling pathway and regulating cyclin and apoptosis-related proteins.

A Glimmer of Hope for Liver Cancer Treatment

These findings offer a promising avenue for future liver cancer treatments. By understanding and targeting the TPX2 gene, scientists may develop therapies that can halt the growth of liver cancer cells and promote their destruction. Further research and clinical trials are essential to translate these discoveries into effective treatments for liver cancer patients, offering new hope for improved outcomes and survival rates.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1002/jcb.28119, Alternate LINK

Title: Effect And Mechanism Of Lentivirus‐Mediated Silencing Of Tpx2 Gene On Proliferation And Apoptosis Of Human Hepatoma Cells

Subject: Cell Biology

Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Lei Ding, Shuhong Zhang, Shijun Chen, Lixue Zheng, Lianxiang Xiao

Published: 2018-12-11

Everything You Need To Know

What is TPX2, and why is it being researched in the context of liver cancer?

TPX2, or Targeting Protein for Xklp2, is a microtubule-associated protein that plays a crucial role in cell cycle regulation. Research indicates that TPX2 is often overexpressed in various human tumors, including liver cancer. Scientists are exploring its role in liver cancer development to determine if targeting TPX2 can halt the proliferation and induce apoptosis (cell death) in hepatoma cells, offering a potential new treatment strategy.

How does silencing the TPX2 gene affect liver cancer cells, according to recent studies?

Silencing the TPX2 gene in HepG2 liver cancer cells, through methods like transfection with lentiviral vectors expressing TPX2-targeting short hairpin RNA (shRNA), has shown promising effects. Specifically, it leads to reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. This is achieved by downregulating proteins like c-Myc and cyclin D1, which are involved in cell proliferation, and upregulating caspase-3, a protein associated with apoptosis. Furthermore, TPX2 knockdown inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, crucial for cell growth and survival.

What is the significance of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in liver cancer research related to TPX2?

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is critical for cell growth and survival, and it plays a significant role in liver cancer development. Research has found that silencing TPX2 inhibits this pathway. When the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is activated using LiCl, the anti-proliferative and apoptosis-promoting effects of TPX2 knockdown are diminished. Conversely, using XAV-939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, reduces HepG2 cell proliferation and increases apoptosis, suggesting that TPX2's influence on liver cancer cells is closely tied to this signaling pathway.

What are the potential implications of targeting the TPX2 gene for future liver cancer treatments?

Targeting the TPX2 gene offers a promising avenue for future liver cancer treatments. By understanding and manipulating TPX2, scientists may develop therapies that can halt the growth of liver cancer cells and promote their destruction through apoptosis. This approach involves modulating the Wnt signaling pathway and regulating cyclin and apoptosis-related proteins. Such targeted therapies could potentially improve outcomes and survival rates for liver cancer patients, especially in cases where tumor recurrence, metastasis, and other complications pose significant challenges.

What are the next steps in translating TPX2 research into practical treatments for liver cancer?

While the findings on TPX2 are promising, further research and clinical trials are essential to translate these discoveries into effective treatments for liver cancer patients. These trials would assess the safety and efficacy of TPX2-targeted therapies in human subjects. Additionally, further investigation is needed to fully understand the mechanism by which TPX2 influences the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and other related proteins. This deeper understanding will facilitate the development of more precise and effective therapeutic strategies. The ultimate goal is to offer new hope and improved outcomes for individuals battling liver cancer.