Heat shock protein-27 and MiR-17-5p are novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian patients

Abstract

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the fourth common cause of cancer related death worldwide. HCC prognosis is still miserable due to its late diagnosis and limited treatment strategies, especially in cases with underlying chronic liver diseases as liver cirrhosis (LC). ObjectiveTo check the utility of Hsp27and miR-17-5p expression as early non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for HCC on top of liver cirrhosis and their association with clinico-pathological parameters. Design and methodsThis case control study included 95 HCC cases and 103 LC patients without HCC. Liver cirrhosis was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound during clinical examination, liver function tests and liver biopsy. HCC was diagnosed by ultrasound and/or CT or MRI, Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) and histopathology. Total RNA was extracted from cancerous tissue and surrounding tissues in HCC patients and from blood and serum of both groups. Expression of blood Hsp27 and serum MiR-17-5p were studied by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR). ResultsHsp27 and miR-17-5p mRNA expression were significantly augmented in HCC patients in comparison to LC patients and in malignant tissues as compared to non-malignant adjacent tissues in HCC patients. In blood of HCC patients, Hsp27 mRNA expression was significantly elevated and correlated with big tumour size, number of tumour lesions, high histopathological grades, metastasis and HBV or HCV infection. Serum miR-17-5p mRNA level was significantly enhanced and associated with number of tumour lesions, vascular invasion, stage and metastasis. ConclusionHsp27 and miR17-5p expression levels are augmented in HCC patients and associated with some clinicopathological criteria. Therefore, they can be used as novel non-invasive biomarkers for HCC diagnosis and prognosis in Egyptian patients.