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Manea I, Iacob R, Iacob S, Cerban R, Dima S, Oniscu G, Popescu I, Gheorghe L. Liquid biopsy for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1218705. [PMID: 37809326 PMCID: PMC10556479 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1218705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly prevalent and lethal cancer globally. Over 90% of HCC cases arise in the context of liver cirrhosis, and the severity of the underlying liver disease or advanced tumor stage at diagnosis significantly limits treatment options. Early diagnosis is crucial, and all guidelines stress the importance of screening protocols for HCC early detection as a public health objective. As serum biomarkers are not optimal for early diagnosis, liquid biopsy has emerged as a promising tool for diagnosis, prognostication, and patients' stratification for personalized therapy in various solid tumors, including HCC. While circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are better suited for personalized therapy and prognosis, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and extracellular vesicle-based technologies show potential for early diagnosis, HCC screening, and surveillance protocols. Evaluating the added value of liquid biopsy genetic and epigenetic biomarkers for HCC screening is a key goal in translational research. Somatic mutations commonly found in HCC can be investigated in cfDNA and plasma exosomes as genetic biomarkers. Unique methylation patterns in cfDNA or cfDNA fragmentome features have been suggested as innovative tools for early HCC detection. Likewise, extracellular vesicle cargo biomarkers such as miRNAs and long non-coding RNAs may serve as potential biomarkers for early HCC detection. This review will explore recent findings on the utility of liquid biopsy for early HCC diagnosis. Combining liquid biopsy methods with traditional serological biomarkers could improve the overall diagnostic accuracy for early HCC detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Manea
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation Center, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Razvan Iacob
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation Center, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Speranta Iacob
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation Center, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Razvan Cerban
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation Center, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Simona Dima
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation Center, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Gabriel Oniscu
- Transplant Division, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Irinel Popescu
- Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation Center, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Liliana Gheorghe
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation Center, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
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Mislang A, Mollard R, Tapia Rico G, Fairlie WD, Lee EF, Harris TJ, Aston R, Brown MP. A preliminary assessment of oral monepantel's tolerability and pharmacokinetics in individuals with treatment-refractory solid tumors. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2020; 86:589-594. [PMID: 32960289 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-020-04146-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Monepantel is an approved veterinary anthelmintic with a strong safety profile. Preclinical evidence suggests novel mTOR pathway-associated anticancer activity. An open-label Phase I trial assessed tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and PET-CT imaging following oral Zolvix® monepantel administration to adults with treatment refractory, progressing and unresectable solid tumors. METHODS Subjects were scheduled to daily home-based monepantel administration for 28 days in a 3 + 3 dose escalation study (5.0, 25.0 and 62.5 mg/kg bw). RESULTS Of 41 reported drug-related AEs, 68% were Grade 1 and 24% were Grade 2; 35 AEs related to gastrointestinal effects including very poor palatability. DLT and MTD could not be determined due to early termination. Myelosuppression was not observed at the lowest level tested. Three of four Cohort 1 subjects had reduced mTOR pathway marker p-RPS6KB1 levels in PBMCs and achieved RECISTv1.1 SD by CT; one had progressive bony metastases by FDG-PET. One subject recorded PD on day 28, correlating with no detectable plasma monepantel from day 7. Monepantel sulfone dominated monepantel in pharmacokinetics. Both Cohort 2 subjects withdrew early due to AEs and the trial was terminated. CONCLUSIONS Short-term 5 mg/kg bw monepantel administration provides a combined steady-state trough plasma monepantel and monepantel sulfone concentration of 0.5 μM. Gastrointestinal AEs including very poor palatability are concerning and suggested to be resolved by future drug product reformulation. RECISTv1.1, p-RPS6KB1 and plasma tumor marker outcomes provide preliminary evidence of anticancer activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mislang
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
| | - Richard Mollard
- PharmAust Ltd, Claremont, 6010, Australia
- Department of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, Australia
| | - Gonzalo Tapia Rico
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
| | - W Douglas Fairlie
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, 3084, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Heidelberg, 3084, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Erinna F Lee
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, 3084, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Heidelberg, 3084, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Tiffany J Harris
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, 3084, Australia
| | | | - Michael P Brown
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, 5000, Australia.
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, 5000, Australia.
- School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5000, Australia.
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Medical Oncology, 6E351, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, 5000, Australia.
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Integrated analysis reveals critical glycolytic regulators in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Commun Signal 2020; 18:97. [PMID: 32576292 PMCID: PMC7310503 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-020-00539-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer cells primarily utilize aerobic glycolysis for energy production, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. Increased aerobic glycolysis supports cancer cell survival and rapid proliferation and predicts a poor prognosis in cancer patients. Methods Molecular profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort were used to analyze the prognostic value of glycolysis gene signature in human cancers. Gain- and loss-of-function studies were performed to key drivers implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) glycolysis. The molecular mechanisms underlying Osteopontin (OPN)-mediated glycolysis were investigated by real-time qPCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, luciferase reporter assay, and xenograft and diethyl-nitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC mouse models. Results Increased glycolysis predicts adverse clinical outcome in many types of human cancers, especially HCC. Then, we identified a handful of differentially expressed genes related to HCC glycolysis. Gain- and loss-of-function studies showed that OPN promotes, while SPP2, LECT2, SLC10A1, CYP3A4, HSD17B13, and IYD inhibit HCC cell glycolysis as revealed by glucose utilization, lactate production, and extracellular acidification ratio. These glycolysis-related genes exhibited significant tumor-promoting or tumor suppressive effect on HCC cells and these effects were glycolysis-dependent. Mechanistically, OPN enhanced HCC glycolysis by activating the αvβ3-NF-κB signaling. Genetic or pharmacological blockade of OPN-αvβ3 axis suppressed HCC glycolysis in xenograft tumor model and hepatocarcinogenesis induced by DEN. Conclusions Our findings reveal crucial determinants for controlling the Warburg metabolism in HCC cells and provide a new insight into the oncogenic roles of OPN in HCC. Video Abstract
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The threshold of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228857. [PMID: 32053643 PMCID: PMC7018038 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become a pressing health problem facing the world today due to its high morbidity, high mortality, and late discovery. As a diagnostic criteria of HCC, the exact threshold of Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is controversial. Therefore, this study was aimed to systematically estimate the performance of AFP in diagnosing HCC and to clarify its optimal threshold. Methods Medline and Embase databases were searched for articles indexed up to November 2019. English language studies were included if both the sensitivity and specificity of AFP in the diagnosis of HCC were provided. The basic information and accuracy data included in the studies were extracted. Combined estimates for sensitivity and specificity were statistically analyzed by random-effects model using MetaDisc 1.4 and Stata 15.0 software at the prespecified threshold of 400 ng/mL, 200 ng/mL, and the range of 20–100 ng/mL. The optimal threshold was evaluated by the area under curve (AUC) of the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC). Results We retrieved 29,828 articles and included 59 studies and 1 review with a total of 11,731 HCC cases confirmed by histomorphology and 21,972 control cases without HCC. The included studies showed an overall judgment of at risk of bias. Four studies with AFP threshold of 400 ng/mL showed the summary sensitivity and specificity of 0.32 (95%CI 0.31–0.34) and 0.99 (95%CI 0.98–0.99), respectively. Four studies with AFP threshold of 200 ng/mL showed the summary sensitivity and specificity of 0.49 (95%CI 0.47–0.50) and 0.98 (95%CI 0.97–0.99), respectively. Forty-six studies with AFP threshold of 20–100 ng/mL showed the summary sensitivity and specificity of 0.61 (95%CI 0.60–0.62) and 0.86 (95%CI 0.86–0.87), respectively. The AUC of SROC and Q index of 400 ng/mL threshold were 0.9368 and 0.8734, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in 200 ng/mL threshold (0.9311 and 0.8664, respectively) and higher than those in 20–100 ng/mL threshold (0.8330 and 0.7654, respectively). Furthermore, similar result that favored 400 ng/mL were shown in the threshold in terms of AFP combined with ultrasound. Conclusion AFP levels in serum showed good accuracy in HCC diagnosis, and the threshold of AFP with 400 ng/mL was better than that of 200 ng/mL in terms of sensitivity and specificity no matter AFP is used alone or combined with ultrasound.
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Sun T, Tang Y, Sun D, Bu Q, Li P. Osteopontin versus alpha-fetoprotein as a diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:8925-8935. [PMID: 30573979 PMCID: PMC6292395 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s186230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Several studies have reported that osteopontin (OPN) is a promising marker for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, some studies emerged with conflicting results. Therefore, we provide a systematic review to evaluate the diagnostic performance of OPN for HCC. Methods Studies that investigated the diagnostic value of OPN and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in HCC were collected from PubMed and Embase. Sensitivity, specificity, and other parameters about the diagnostic accuracy of serum OPN and AFP in HCC were pooled using STATA 12.0 software. The summary receiver operating characteristic curve (sROC) and other parameters were used to summarize the overall test performance. Results Twelve studies were included in our meta-analysis. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio were 0.813 (95% CI: 0.671-0.902), 0.874 (95% CI: 0.778-0.932), and 30.047 (95% CI: 8.845-102.067) for OPN; 0.639 (95% CI: 0.538-0.729), 0.959 (95% CI: 0.909-0.982), and 41.518 (95% CI: 13.688-125.929) for AFP; and 0.856 (95% CI: 0.760-0.918), 0.738 (95% CI: 0.630-0.823), and 16.718 (95% CI: 7.950-35.156) for OPN+AFP, respectively. The area under the sROC for OPN, AFP, and OPN+AFP was 0.91, 0.88, and 0.85, respectively. For diagnosis of early HCC, pooled sensitivity of serum OPN, AFP, and OPN+AFP was 0.493 (95% CI: 0.422-0.563), 0.517 (95% CI: 0.446-0.587), and 0.732 (95% CI: 0.666-0.791), respectively. Conclusions OPN is a comparable marker to AFP for the diagnosis of HCC, and the sensitivity of OPN was higher than that of AFP. A combination of AFP and OPN can elevate the sensitivity of diagnosis for early HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying 257000, Shandong, China
| | - Yurong Tang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying 257000, Shandong, China
| | - Diwen Sun
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying 257000, Shandong, China,
| | - Qingao Bu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying 257000, Shandong, China,
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying 257000, Shandong, China,
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Abdel-Hafiz SM, Hamdy HEM, Khorshed FM, Aboushousha TS, Safwat G, Saber MA, Seleem M, Soliman AH. Evaluation of Osteopontin as a Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinomas in Egyptian Patients with Chronic HCV Cirrhosis. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2018; 19:1021-1027. [PMID: 29693976 PMCID: PMC6031767 DOI: 10.22034/apjcp.2018.19.4.1021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a high incidence disease in Egypt with a poor prognosis and
survival. Biomarkers are important for diagnosis of HCC at an early stage. Osteopontin (OPN), a glycoprotein secreted by
macrophages, osteoblasts, and T cells, is also highly expressed in a variety of tumors, such as examples in the breast, colon,
and stomach. The present study aimed to correlate the serum level of OPN in HCV-positive hepatocellular carcinoma
patients, with OPN expression in tumor and non-tumor liver tissues in order to identify its efficacy as a biomarker
for diagnosis. Material and Methods: Out of total of 146 patients, 80 were selected for inclusion in the study. Blood
samples as well as specimens of tumor and non-tumor liver tissue were collected. In addition, blood samples from 20
healthy volunteers were obtained as controls. Serum OPN and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were evaluated by ELISA for
HCC and control groups. OPN and AFP gene expression were examined by real-time PCR, after homogenization and
DNA extraction from serum samples and liver tissues. Results: It was found that serum OPN levels were significantly
higher in the HCC group compared to normal group (P=0.009), with a strong positive correlation with AFP expression.
However, there was no significant difference between OPN expression in tumor and non-tumor liver tissue. Conclusion:
Serum OPN is highly suggested to be a professional candidate for HCC early diagnosis, with a diagnostic ability and
accuracy equal or higher than for AFP.
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Hao C, Cui Y, Owen S, Li W, Cheng S, Jiang WG. Human osteopontin: Potential clinical applications in cancer (Review). Int J Mol Med 2017; 39:1327-1337. [PMID: 28440483 PMCID: PMC5428945 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2017.2964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human osteopontin (OPN) is a glycosylated phosphoprotein which is expressed in a variety of tissues in the body. In recent years, accumulating evidence has indicated that the aberrant expression of OPN is closely associated with tumourigensis, progression and most prominently with metastasis in several tumour types. In this review, we present the current knowledge on the expression profiles of OPN and its main splice variants in human cancers, as well as the potential implications in patient outcome. We also discuss its putative clinical application as a cancer biomarker and as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengcheng Hao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cancer and Metastasis Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Yuxin Cui
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Sionen Owen
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Wenbin Li
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, P.R. China
| | - Shan Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cancer and Metastasis Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Wen G. Jiang
- Correspondence to: Professor Wen G. Jiang, Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Henry Wellcome Building, Heath Park Way, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK, E-mail:
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Simão A, Madaleno J, Silva N, Rodrigues F, Caseiro P, Costa JN, Carvalho A. Plasma osteopontin is a biomarker for the severity of alcoholic liver cirrhosis, not for hepatocellular carcinoma screening. BMC Gastroenterol 2015; 15:73. [PMID: 26122937 PMCID: PMC4487194 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-015-0307-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Implementation of surveillance programs for at-risk populations and identification of biomarkers for early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detection are a major public health goal. Recently, osteopontin (OPN) has attracted attention as a promising biomarker, with some potential advantages compared to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), but its role in the context of alcoholic cirrhosis has never been assessed. The aims of this study are to assess the utility of plasma OPN in the diagnosis of HCC in alcoholic cirrhotic patients and to investigate whether increased values are due to the tumor or underlying liver disease severity. Methods A total of 90 consecutively alcoholic cirrhosis patients, observed between Jun 2013 and May 2014 at a Liver Disease Unit, were included and divided into two groups: 45 without (group I) and 45 with HCC (group II). Plasma levels of OPN (ELISA, Immuno-Biological Laboratories, Gunma, Japan) and AFP (IMMULITE® 2000 AFP, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Tarrytown, New York) were assessed. The diagnostic accuracy of each marker was evaluated using Receiver-Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis (AUC) and its 95 % Confidence Interval (CI). Results Plasma OPN levels in group I patients (1176.28 +/–744.59 ng/mL) weren’t significantly different from those of group II (1210.75 +/–800.60 ng/mL) (p = 0.826). OPN levels significantly increased with advancing BCLC tumor stage and with advancing Child-Pugh class, in both groups. Comparing the two groups, AUC for OPN and AFP were 0.51 (95 % CI: 0.39–0.63) and 0.79 (95 % CI: 0.70–0.89), respectively. Based on the ROC analysis, there were no satisfactory cut-off values for OPN that would distinguish patients with from those without tumour. Conclusions Despite having a correlation with BCLC stage, the same was observed with progressive deterioration of underlying liver function in terms of Child-Pugh class and MELD score, and isn’t a useful diagnostic biomarker for HCC in alcoholic cirrhotic patients, particularly in the early stages. AFP confirms the performance evidenced in other studies, being superior to OPN. Searching more specific biomarkers for early diagnosis of HCC in alcoholic cirrhosis is still warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adélia Simão
- Internal Medicine A-Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal, and University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal, Av. Bissaya Barreto e Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - João Madaleno
- Internal Medicine A-Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal, and University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal, Av. Bissaya Barreto e Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Nuno Silva
- Internal Medicine A-Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal, and University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal, Av. Bissaya Barreto e Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Clinical Pathology-Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Paula Caseiro
- Clinical Pathology-Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - José Nascimento Costa
- Internal Medicine A-Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal, and University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal, Av. Bissaya Barreto e Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Armando Carvalho
- Internal Medicine A-Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal, and University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal, Av. Bissaya Barreto e Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal.
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