To investigate the expression of MYCT1 (Myc target 1) and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 6 (FAS) in HBV infection-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their relationship with clinicopathological parameters on the basis of previous studies.

A total of 48 HBV infection-associated HCC patients diagnosed at the 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Support Force from June 2018 to August 2023 were collected. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect mRNA levels in the samples, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of MYCT1 and FAS, and the differences between cancerous tissues and adjacent tissues were compared. The correlation between clinicopathological parameters and MYCT1 and FAS was analyzed statistically. The GEPIA database was used to analyze the expression level of MYCT1 in HCC and the prognosis of patients.

The mRNA and protein expression levels of MYCT1 and FAS were significantly decreased in liver cancer tissues compared with paracancer tissues (P<0.05). The expression of MYCT1 was significantly correlated with age, sex and tumor size (P<0.05). FAS expression was significantly correlated with TNM stage (P<0.05). The expression intensity of MYCT1 and FAS in HCC tissues was positively correlated (r=0.333, P<0.05). GEPIA database analysis showed that MYCT1 expression was lower in hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) compared with paracancer tissues. The expression of MYCT1 was different in different stages. The survival of patients with high MYCT1 expression was significantly better than those with low MYCT1 expression (all P<0.05).

In HCC associated with HBV infection, the expression of FAS is correlated with the TNM stage of the patients; MYCT1 may mediate apoptosis through the FAS pathway. MYCT1 may potentially become a new biomarker for the auxiliary diagnosis and prognosis assessment of HCC.