title: Hepatocellular carcinoma tumour markers: current role and expectations.
abstract: Tumour markers could be helpful along the continuum of care for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma; however, there is insufficient data for routine use of most current biomarkers in clinical practice. Therefore, the backbone of early detection, diagnosis and treatment response for hepatocellular carcinoma remains imaging-based. Alpha fetoprotein is the best studied of all biomarkers and may be of benefit for early detection when used in combination with ultrasound. Several other biomarkers, including AFP-L3, DCP, osteopontin, and GP73, are also being evaluated for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in phase III biomarker studies. Serum and tissue-based biomarkers and genomics may aid in HCC diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment selection; however, further studies are needed to better characterize their accuracy and potential role in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. Electronic address: amit.singal@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Amit G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Singal
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Alpha fetoprotein; Early detection; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Tumour markers