Mutations in NOTCH1 and nucleotide excision repair genes are correlated with prognosis of hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality because of its poor prognosis. Therefore, identifying targetable genetic mutations and mutational signatures associated with prognosis and treatment strategies are needed. Ultra-deep sequencing of 409 cancer genes using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from 33 male patients with hepatitis B virus-associated HCC was performed to identify mutational signatures associated with the prognosis of HCC. A total of 47 genes were found to be mutated in more than 10% of patients. Chromatin remodeling genes were overrepresented in the mutation profile. We found patient survival was associated with mutations in NOTCH1 and the nucleotide excision repair genes which have not been described previously in HCC. From the mutation profile, six patients were eligible for Sorafenib treatment. Among the remaining patients, 7 patients had mutations in genes that are targets for other cancer drugs and 16 patients had mutations in potentially targetable genes. Only one patient carried no potential drug target. We identified mutational signatures associated with the patient survival of HCC. The findings may facilitate identifying subgroups of patients with a poor prognosis as well as potential drug targets for use in personalized strategies for HCC treatment.