title: Prognostic molecular markers in hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth commonest malignancy worldwide and its incidence is rising. Surgery, including transplantation, remains the only potentially curative modality for HCC, yet recurrence rates are high and long-term survival poor. The ability to predict individual recurrence risk and subsequently prognosis would help guide surgical and chemotherapeutic treatment. As understanding of hepatocarcinogenesis has increased, the myriad of genetic and molecular events that drive the hepatocarcinogenic disease process, including angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, have been identified. This systematic review examines the evidence from published manuscripts reporting the prognostic potential of molecular biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma. In summary, a number of molecular biomarkers with prognostic significance have been identified in hepatocellular carcinoma. Not only might these molecules allow more accurate prediction of prognosis for patients with HCC, but they may also provide targets for potential therapeutic agents.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biomarkers and Prevention Group, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Biocentre, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom. chris.mann@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garcea
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Manson
authors.forename: Ashley R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dennison
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Berry
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000502:physiology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000502:physiology; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins