Emerging biomarkers in HCC patients: Current status

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Oncology
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent primary liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer mortality globally.
• Late diagnosis significantly contributes to the poor prognosis of HCC, necessitating improved early detection methods.
• Current diagnostic tools like alpha-fetoprotein and imaging have limitations in early-stage identification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze emerging molecular biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• To highlight the potential of biomarker combinations for individualized HCC diagnosis and prognosis.
• To address the need for validated biomarkers in early-stage HCC detection.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of emerging molecular biomarkers for HCC.
• Analysis of studies focusing on prognostic significance and external validation.
• Synthesis of current research on novel diagnostic and prognostic markers.

Main Results:

• Several molecular biomarkers with prognostic significance have been identified for HCC.
• Most identified biomarkers have been studied retrospectively, with limited external validation.
• Emerging biomarkers show promise for enhancing the accuracy of HCC diagnosis and prognosis.

Conclusions:

• Early detection of HCC remains a critical challenge.
• Molecular biomarkers offer a promising avenue for improving HCC diagnosis and prognosis.
• Further research and external validation of biomarker signatures are essential for clinical application.