This scientific study identifies the mitochondrial protein MRPL3 as a primary driver of early recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Through proteomic profiling, researchers found that high levels of this protein correlate with poor patient survival and increased tumor aggression. Mechanistically, MRPL3 stabilizes TOMM40, which activates the PGC-1α/TFAM signaling pathway to enhance mitochondrial energy production and respiration. Experimental results demonstrate that silencing this axis reduces the ability of cancer cells to proliferate and migrate. Ultimately, the findings suggest that targeting MRPL3 or its metabolic pathway could provide a new therapeutic strategy to prevent postoperative relapse in liver cancer patients.
References:
Wang S, Yang W, Pan T, et al. MRPL3 enhances mitochondrial function via the TOMM40/PGC-1α/TFAM axis to drive early recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. Cell Death & Disease, 2026.

