Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequently encountered cancer type, and its alarming incidence is explained by genetic and epigenetic alterations. Epigenetic changes may represent diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of HCC. In this review we discussed deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hypomethylation, DNA hypermethylation, and aberrant expression of small non-coding ribonucleic acid (RNA), which could be useful new biomarkers in the early diagnosis of HCC. We selected the articles on human subjects published in English over the past two years involving diagnostic markers detected in body fluids, cancer diagnosis made on histopathological exam, and a control group of those with benign liver disease or without liver disease. These biomarkers need further investigation in clinical trials to develop clinical applications for early diagnosis and management of HCC.
Highlights
ContextHepatocarcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common forms of cancers, being the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality in 2018 [1]
Showed that Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) methylation was not present in normal liver, cirrhotic liver, and low-grade dysplastic nodules, while in high-grade dysplastic nodules and Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), COX2 methylation was present. These findings suggest the potential diagnostic role of methylation markers in HCC
Another study investigated the methylation levels of glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1), Ras association domain family 1 isoform A (RASSF1A), adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), and SFRP1 genes in the plasma of 72 HCC patients and 37 people with benign liver diseases, and showed that methylation level of RASSF1A was correlated with the tumor size; methylation level of GSTP was correlated with an increase in serum AFP concentrations, while hypermethylation of SFRP1 was more frequent in women [24]
Summary
Hepatocarcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common forms of cancers, being the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality in 2018 [1]. MicroRNAs (miRs, miRNAs) are naturally occurring small non-coding RNA molecules (22–25 nucleotides in size) that control gene expression post-transcriptionally, by either mRNA degradation or by blocking translation initiation. They are involved in many physiological processes, such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis [14]. Several microRNAs have been considered recently as biomarkers for prognosis and treatment of cancers, including HCC. Due to their release and high stability in serum they have emerged as potential markers for noninvasive diagnosis of early stages of cancer. The most recent developments in this field are presented below
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