title: Circulating biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma response after locoregional treatments: New insights.
abstract: Hepatocellular cancer is the 5(th) most common cancer in the world and the third cause of death by malignant disease. Locoregional therapies are the most usual treatment of choice for patients with early or intermediate stage of disease. The main diagnostic tools for the detection of recurrence are the radiological techniques such as 4-phase computed tomography or dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. However, in order to achieve best evaluation of treatment outcome and recurrence rates, there is a great need for the identification of specific and easily measured circulating biomarkers. The aim of this review is to analyze the existing data considering the prognostic significance of changes of serum diagnostic markers such as alpha-fetoprotein, des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin, alpha-fetoprotein-L3, angiogenetic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor, hypoxia inducible factor-1a) and immune parameters before and after radiofrequency ablation or transarterial chemoembolization.
authors.affiliation: Maria Tampaki, Polyxeni P Doumba, Melanie Deutsch, John Koskinas, Academic Department of Medicine, Medical School of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tampaki
authors.affiliation: Maria Tampaki, Polyxeni P Doumba, Melanie Deutsch, John Koskinas, Academic Department of Medicine, Medical School of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Polyxeni P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Doumba
authors.affiliation: Maria Tampaki, Polyxeni P Doumba, Melanie Deutsch, John Koskinas, Academic Department of Medicine, Medical School of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.affiliation: Maria Tampaki, Polyxeni P Doumba, Melanie Deutsch, John Koskinas, Academic Department of Medicine, Medical School of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koskinas
keywords: Circulating biomarkers; Hepatocellular cancer; Prognosis; Radiofrequency ablation; Transarterial chemoembolization