Specific molecular markers in hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a multi-factorial, multistep and complex process. Its prognosis is poor, and early diagnosis and monitoring metastasis of HCC is of the utmost importance. Circulating diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers could be used in proper postoperative treatment of patients at an early stage of HCC development. This review summarizes recent studies of the specific biomarkers in diagnosis and monitoring metastasis or postoperative recurrence of HCC.


METHODS
An English-language literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (June 1998 to September 2006) on researches of some valuable specific biomarkers in diagnosis and monitoring metastasis or postoperative recurrence of HCC.


RESULTS
Hepatoma tissues can synthesize various tumor-related proteins, polypeptides, and isoenzymes, such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), hepatoma-specific gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (HS-GGT), etc, and then secrete into blood. The valuable early diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers could predict the development and metastases of HCC. Recent researches have confirmed that circulating hepatoma-specific AFP subfraction, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, HS-GGT, and free insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II may be more specific markers than total AFP level for early diagnosis for HCC. The circulating genetic markers such as AFP-mRNA, TGF-beta1-mRNA, IGF-II-mRNA, etc from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HCC patients have been most extensively used in monitoring distal metastasis or postoperative recurrence of HCC.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatoma tissues synthesize and secrete valuable molecular markers into blood. The analyses of circulating hepatoma-specific biomarkers are useful to early diagnosis of HCC or monitoring metastasis or postoperative recurrence of HCC.
Yao
Deng-Fu
DF
Research Center of Clinical Molecular Biology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China. Yaodf@ahnmc.com
Dong
Zhi-Zhen
ZZ
Yao
Min
M
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000032:analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D019098:Telomerase