Optimizing the Diagnostic Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein and Abdominal Ultrasound by Adding Overexpressed Blood mRNA Matrix Metalloproteinase-12 for Diagnosis of HCV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background And Aims: Matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) is involved in tumor invasiveness and metastasis and significantly overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of blood mRNA MMP-12 overexpression in patients with HCC.

Patients And Methods: From January 2017 to June 2017, 100 patients with HCC (HCV-related cirrhosis) and 100 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis (without HCC) were included in this study.