Emerging and Clinically Accepted Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Hepatology and Oncology
• Biomarker Discovery and Validation

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health concern, ranking as the third leading cause of cancer death.
• Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the conventional biomarker for HCC, but its limitations necessitate improved diagnostic tools.
• Existing biomarkers like AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP have clinical utility but significant drawbacks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current and emerging biomarkers for HCC detection and surveillance.
• To analyze the clinical strengths and weaknesses of various HCC biomarkers.
• To highlight the need for multi-biomarker strategies and further validation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of clinically available and novel HCC biomarkers.
• Analysis of data on the performance and limitations of established biomarkers (AFP, AFP-L3, DCP).
• Evaluation of emerging non-invasive biomarkers including circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), glycosylation, and salivary metabolomics/microRNAs.

Main Results:

• Traditional biomarkers (AFP, AFP-L3, DCP) have limitations impacting their diagnostic accuracy.
• Emerging biomarkers such as ctDNA, genomic glycosylation, and salivary analyses show significant potential for HCC.
• These novel biomarkers require extensive prospective validation for clinical implementation.

Conclusions:

• A multi-biomarker approach is crucial for optimizing HCC patient care.
• Emerging non-invasive biomarkers offer promising avenues for early HCC detection and surveillance.
• Further large-scale validation studies are essential to confirm the clinical utility of novel HCC biomarkers.