Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous disease, making the prognostic prediction challenging. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, is a key regulator in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of HCC. However, the expression and function of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in HCC remained largely unclear. In this study, we analyzed TCGA datasets and identified 58 survival-related deferentially expressed FRGs (DE-FRGs). Then, based on the results of LASSO analysis, we developed a novel prognostic model based on 12 survival-related DE-FRGs. Survival assays indicated a strong prognostic ability of this new model in predicting clinical prognosis of HCC patients. In addition, we conducted an exploration of molecular subtypes related to HCC and delved into the associated immune characteristics and gene expression patterns. Among the 12 survival-related DE-FRGs, our attention focused on ABHD12 (abhydrolase domain containing 12) which was highly expressed in HCC and associated with advanced clinical stages. Multivariate assays confirmed that ABHD12 was a significant prognostic factor for HCC patients. Immune analysis revealed that ABHD12 may play an important role in tumor microenvironment. Finally, we performed RT-PCR and confirmed that ABHD12 was highly expressed in HCC cells. Functional experiments revealed that ABHD12 knockdown may suppress the proliferation and migration of HCC cells. These findings emphasized the significance of ABHD12 as a potential prognostic marker for HCC and its crucial role in the field of tumor biology. Additionally, the study introduces a novel survival model that holds promise for enhancing prognostic predictions in HCC patients. Overall, this research provided valuable insights for a deeper comprehension of the complexity of HCC and the development of personalized treatment strategies.