Serum level of cluster of differentiation 166 as novel biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Background The detection of serum biomarkers associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most promising approach to improve diagnostic accuracy and to overcome the disadvantages of current diagnostic strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum level of cluster of differentiation 166 (CD166) in early detection of patients with HCC. Patients and methods This study was conducted on 90 patients, divided into three groups: group 1 included 30 patients with unstaged HCC; group 2 included 30 patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis (LC) without HCC, who were subdivided into 2a subgroup (15 patients with compensated liver cirrhosis) and 2b (15 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis); and group 3 included 30 sex-matched and age-matched apparently healthy individuals as a control group. All patients and control were subjected to detailed history taking and clinical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, and/or computed tomography. Laboratory investigations included complete blood picture, liver function tests, serum viral hepatitis markers, serum urea and creatinine, α-fetoprotein (AFP), antinuclear antibody, and assay of CD166 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results CD166 was significantly higher in HCC group, compensated LC patients group, and decompensated LC patient group, when compared with control group (P Conclusion The combination of CD166 and AFP is a better biomarker for diagnosis of HCC, where the combination showed higher diagnostic sensitivity and specificity than AFP alone.