Serum biomarkers for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with HCV infection in egyptian patients.

Background: Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma using serological markers with better sensitivity and specificity than alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is needed.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum sICAM-1, β-catenin, IL-8, proteasome and sTNFR-II in early detection of HCC.

Materials And Methods: Serum levels of IL-8, sICAM-1, sTNFR-II, proteasome and β-catenin were measured by ELISA assay in 479 serum samples from 192 patients with HCC, 96 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), 96 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and 95 healthy controls.

Disease progression from chronic hepatitis C to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with increasing DNA promoter methylation.

Background: Changes in DNA methylation patterns are believed to be early events in hepatocarcinogenesis. A better understanding of methylation states and how they correlate with disease progression will aid in finding potential strategies for early detection of HCC. The aim of our study was to analyze the methylation frequency of tumor suppressor genes, P14, P15, and P73, and a mismatch repair gene (O6MGMT) in HCV related chronic liver disease and HCC to identify candidate epigenetic biomarkers for HCC prediction.