Objective:To investigate the effects of blocking MAPK signaling pathway on biological characteristics of residual cancer cells after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:HepG2 cell line was selected and residual liver cancer cells (HepG2-H cells) after radiofrequency ablation were prepared by stimulating radiofrequency ablation in vitro. The morphology of the 2 cells was observed after 48 h culture. The gene expression difference of HepG2 and HepG2-H cells was detected by using RNA sequencing, and the differential genes were analyzed by using Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. HepG2-H cells were treated with different concentrations (10, 20, 30 μmol /L) of MAPK signaling pathway specific blocker U0126, and cells without adding U0126 were treated as the control group. The proliferative ability of the cells in each group was detected by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method. The migration ability of cells in each group was detected by using cell scratch test. The invasion ability of cells in each group was detected by using cell invasion assay.Results:After 48 h culture of HepG2-H cells and HepG2 cells, adherent cells with epithelioid growth were closely arranged at the bottom of the petri dish. The confluence of HepG2-H cells reached about 80%, and the confluence of HepG2 cells reached about 70%. A total of 16 255 genes were determined in RNA sequencing. Compared with HepG2 cells, 85 up-regulated genes and 312 down-regulated genes were detected in HepG2-H cells. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that MAPK signaling pathway was most significantly affected by differential genes. The absorbance values of the control group and HepG2-H cells treated with 10, 20 and 30 μmol /L U0126 for 72 h were 1.12±0.08, 0.69±0.08, 0.51±0.06 and 0.45±0.08, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 5.12, P = 0.013). The migration areas of HepG2-H cells for 24 h were (6 054±269) μm 2, (5 640±285) μm 2, (5 082±238) μm 2, (4 822±246) μm 2, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 3.37, P = 0.043). The number of invasive cells for 24 h was 227±17, 164±19, 138±18, 129±19, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 4.04, P = 0.032). Conclusions:Blocking MAPK signaling pathway can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of residual cancer cells after radiofrequency ablation of HCC.

Objective:To investigate the effects of blocking MAPK signaling pathway on biological characteristics of residual cancer cells after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:HepG2 cell line was selected and residual liver cancer cells (HepG2-H cells) after radiofrequency ablation were prepared by stimulating radiofrequency ablation in vitro. The morphology of the 2 cells was observed after 48 h culture. The gene expression difference of HepG2 and HepG2-H cells was detected by using RNA sequencing, and the differential genes were analyzed by using Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. HepG2-H cells were treated with different concentrations (10, 20, 30 μmol /L) of MAPK signaling pathway specific blocker U0126, and cells without adding U0126 were treated as the control group. The proliferative ability of the cells in each group was detected by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method. The migration ability of cells in each group was detected by using cell scratch test. The invasion ability of cells in each group was detected by using cell invasion assay.Results:After 48 h culture of HepG2-H cells and HepG2 cells, adherent cells with epithelioid growth were closely arranged at the bottom of the petri dish. The confluence of HepG2-H cells reached about 80%, and the confluence of HepG2 cells reached about 70%. A total of 16 255 genes were determined in RNA sequencing. Compared with HepG2 cells, 85 up-regulated genes and 312 down-regulated genes were detected in HepG2-H cells. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that MAPK signaling pathway was most significantly affected by differential genes. The absorbance values of the control group and HepG2-H cells treated with 10, 20 and 30 μmol /L U0126 for 72 h were 1.12±0.08, 0.69±0.08, 0.51±0.06 and 0.45±0.08, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 5.12, P = 0.013). The migration areas of HepG2-H cells for 24 h were (6 054±269) μm 2, (5 640±285) μm 2, (5 082±238) μm 2, (4 822±246) μm 2, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 3.37, P = 0.043). The number of invasive cells for 24 h was 227±17, 164±19, 138±18, 129±19, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 4.04, P = 0.032). Conclusions:Blocking MAPK signaling pathway can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of residual cancer cells after radiofrequency ablation of HCC.