Soluble CD25 as a predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma compared with alpha-fetoprotein

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biomarker Discovery
• Hepatology

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant global health concern.
• Early and accurate diagnosis of HCC is crucial for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes.
• Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a commonly used biomarker, but its diagnostic accuracy for HCC remains suboptimal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic utility of soluble CD25 (sCD25) as a potential biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• To compare the performance of sCD25 with AFP in differentiating HCC patients from cirrhotic patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• A study cohort of 88 subjects was divided into three groups: HCC patients (n=44), cirrhotic patients without HCC (n=32), and healthy controls (n=12).
• Patients with HCC included various BCLC stages (A, B, C) and all had underlying cirrhosis.
• Levels of sCD25 and AFP were measured and compared across the groups.

Main Results:

• sCD25 and AFP levels were elevated in HCC patients compared to other groups, but without statistical significance (p > 0.05).
• For HCC detection, sCD25 exhibited a sensitivity of 86.4% and specificity of 29.5% (AUC=0.619).
• AFP demonstrated higher diagnostic performance with a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 62.5% (AUC=0.828) for early HCC detection.

Conclusions:

• Soluble CD25 (sCD25) does not appear to offer superior diagnostic performance for HCC compared to AFP.
• AFP remains a more effective biomarker for HCC diagnosis, showing better sensitivity and specificity.
• Further research may be needed to explore other potential roles or combinations of biomarkers for HCC.