The Bcl-2 and TGF-beta1 levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Relatively little is known about the biochemical mechanisms controlling proliferation and neoplastic transformation of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of study was to determine the level of the oncoproteins Bcl-2, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) in serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), and liver cirrhosis (LC) as compared to HCC as a biomarkers of malignant transformation and early detection of suspected patients. A total of forty-three patients were included, 30 of them were males and 13 females, their ages ranged from 29-66 years (49.37 +/- 8.35). Increased levels of Bcl-2 were found in liver cirrhosis and HCC groups as compared to CHC and control groups (P < 0.001). The level of Bcl-2 was higher in CHC than control but the difference was insignificant (P > 0.05). Serum TGF-beta1 was significantly increased in CHC and liver cirrhosis groups as compared to HCC and control groups (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between TGF-beta1 in HCC and control group (P > 0.05). The AFP level was significantly increased in HCC than CHC and liver cirrhosis. No significant difference was detected in AFP between CHC and LC patients (P > 0.05) or between CHC and healthy control (P > 0.05). A positive correlation was found between Bcl-2, and AFP in LC and HCC groups. It is concluded that the increased level of Bcl-2 in HCC may be involved in hepatocacingenesis. TGF-beta1 may be the primary marker to start the process of carcinogenesis, however, low level of TGF-beta1 may be needed to the progress of malignancy.
Ali
Mohamed A
MA
Department of Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha, Zagazig University.
Koura
Bothina A
BA
el-Mashad
Noha
N
Zaghloul
Mohammed H Eldeen
MH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000097:blood*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins