Background One of the most prevalent aberrant epigenetic modifications found in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is abnormal DNA methylation. Our study aimed to evaluate serum Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) gene promoter methylation in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C (HCV)-associated liver cirrhosis with and without HCC as a potential new marker for the early detection of HCC. Methodology The 60 participants who participated in the trial were divided into the following three groups: 20 patients with newly diagnosed primary HCC on top of HCV-related liver cirrhosis, 20 patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis, and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals as a control group. All participants underwent methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction testing to detect the blood level of the RASSF1A gene's methylated promoter. Results Methylated RASSF1A was found in 30% of patients with liver cirrhosis caused by HCV and in 65% of patients with HCC, but not in any of the controls. It was discovered that the serum methylation RASSF1A had an accuracy of 82.50% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.825 for separating HCC patients from healthy controls. With an AUC of 0.675 and an accuracy of 67.50%, it was able to differentiate patients with HCC from those with HCV-related liver cirrhosis. Additionally, there was no statistically significant association between RASSF1A methylation status and HCC mass size (p = 0.449). Conclusions Serum RASSF1A promoter methylation status detection could be useful for detecting HCC early, especially in high-risk individuals such as those with HCV.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.45687 | DOI Listing |
Arab J Gastroenterol
January 2025
Department of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University Baodi Hospital, China. Electronic address:
Background And Study Aims: This study was aimed to validate the correlation of circular RNA HIPK3 (CircHIPK3) expression in serum and tissues with the progression of liver fibrosis (LF) and liver cirrhosis (LC).
Patients And Methods: Serum CircHIPK3 expressions were detected in 120 patients with LF/LC and 120 healthy controls (HCs). CircHIPK3 expression in tissues was detected in 120 fibrotic liver tissues and compared to 57 healthy liver tissues from patients with hepatic hemangioma.
Arab J Gastroenterol
January 2025
Endemic Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt; Liver Disease Research Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11411, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address:
Personalized medicine is an emerging field that provides novel approaches to disease's early diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and prognosis based on the patient's criteria in gene expression, environmental factors, lifestyle, and diet. To date, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant global health burden, with an increasing incidence and significant death rates, despite advancements in surveillance, diagnosis, and therapeutic approaches. The majority of HCC lesions develop in patients with liver cirrhosis, carrying the risks of mortality associated with both the tumor burden and the cirrhosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDev Cell
January 2025
Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. Electronic address:
Understanding the impact of senescence on disease is limited by the lack of tools to lineage label senescent cells. In a recent Cell issue, Zhao et al. create mouse models to genetically manipulate and trace p16 cells, identifying contrasting roles for senescent macrophages and endothelial cells (ECs) in liver fibrosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGut Microbes
December 2025
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University and Richmond VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA.
There is a complex interplay between the gut microbes, liver, and central nervous system, a gut-liver-brain axis, where the brain impacts intestinal and hepatic function while the gut and liver can impact cognition and mental status. Dysregulation of this axis can be seen in numerous diseases. Hepatic encephalopathy, a consequence of cirrhosis, is perhaps the best studied perturbation of this system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStem Cell Res Ther
January 2025
School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, 10F., Teaching & Research Building, Shuang-Ho Campus, No. 301, Yuantong Rd., Zhonghe Dist., Taipei, 235, Taiwan.
Chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis and liver failure, remain formidable challenges due to their complex progression and limited therapeutic options. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has emerged as a game-changing approach, leveraging its potent immunomodulatory, anti-fibrotic, and regenerative capabilities, along with the ability to transdifferentiate into hepatocytes. This review delves into the latest advances in MSC-based treatments for chronic and end-stage liver diseases, as highlighted in current clinical trials.
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