The diagnostic value of plasma exosomal hsa_circ_0070396 for hepatocellular carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.
• Early and accurate diagnosis of HCC is crucial for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes.
• Current diagnostic methods, including α-fetoprotein (AFP), have limitations in sensitivity and specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify novel exosomal circular RNAs (circRNAs) as potential biomarkers for HCC diagnosis.
• To evaluate the diagnostic performance of identified circRNAs in distinguishing HCC patients from healthy individuals and those with other liver diseases.
• To assess the correlation between exosomal circRNA levels and HCC progression.

Main Methods:

• Exosomes were isolated and characterized from patient samples.
• Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was employed to measure the expression levels of exosomal circRNAs.
• Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was utilized to determine the diagnostic accuracy of candidate circRNAs.

Main Results:

• Exosomal circ_0070396 was significantly upregulated in HCC patients compared to control groups.
• circ_0070396 demonstrated superior diagnostic performance in distinguishing HCC from healthy donors compared to AFP.
• A combination of circ_0070396 and AFP showed enhanced diagnostic capability.
• Exosomal circ_0070396 effectively differentiated HCC patients from those with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis.
• A positive correlation was observed between exosomal circ_0070396 levels and HCC progression.

Conclusions:

• Exosomal circ_0070396 represents a promising novel biomarker for the early detection of HCC.
• This circRNA holds potential for improving the diagnostic accuracy of HCC, outperforming existing markers.
• circ_0070396 may serve as a valuable tool for monitoring HCC progression and guiding clinical management.