title: The Bcl-2 and TGF-beta1 levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha, Zagazig University.
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Bothina A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Koura
authors.forename: Noha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: el-Mashad
authors.forename: Mohammed H Eldeen
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Zaghloul
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins