Publication Name	World Journal of Hepatology
Manuscript ID	109391
Country	China

Category	Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Manuscript Type	Editorial
Article Title	Mechanistic interplay between aflatoxin B1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Yan Luo, Li-Juan Wang and Cheng-Long Wang
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number Chongqing Health Commission and Science and Technology Bureau No. 2023MSXM060
Corresponding Author	Cheng-Long Wang, Department of Pathology, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, No. 6 Seventh Panxi Branch Road, Jiangbei District, Chongqing 400021, China. 171909771@qq.com
Key Words	Hepatocellular carcinoma; Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3; Aflatoxin B1; Prognosis; Biomarker
Core Tip	This article elucidates the critical mechanistic interplay between aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) dysregulation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We propose that AFB1 contributes directly to TIMP-3 downregulation, potentially via epigenetic silencing or miRNA dysregulation, thereby promoting AFB1-related HCC aggressiveness. Understanding this AFB1-TIMP-3 axis is crucial for validating TIMP-3 as a precise prognostic biomarker and a specific therapeutic target in AFB1-related HCC. Focused research is imperative in high AFB1-exposure regions to unravel these molecular interactions and develop targeted interventions aimed at restoring TIMP-3 function, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Citation	Luo Y, Wang LJ, Wang CL. Mechanistic interplay between aflatoxin B1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Hepatol 2025; In press

Received	2025-05-09 08:19
Peer-Review Started	2025-05-12 00:17
To Make the First Decision
Return for Revision	2025-05-29 08:52
Revised	2025-06-08 10:38
Second Decision	2025-08-26 02:39
Accepted by Journal Editor-in-Chief
Accepted by Executive Editor-in-Chief	2025-08-26 08:59
Articles in Press	2025-08-26 08:59
Publication Fee Transferred
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-5182 (online)
Open Access	This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
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