GIT Kurdistan board GEH J Club: HCC biomarkers.

2. Introduction:
• Cancer biomarkers are molecules or
substances measurable in cells, tissues,
or body fluids that indicate presence or
predict the risk of cancer development.
• Cancer biomarkers are proteins in serum
or plasma.
• Recent advances allowed discovery of
novel HCC biomarkers, including DNA-fusion
genes, genetic mutations , epigenetic
changes, messenger RNA, (miRNAs), other
species, proteins& posttranslational
protein modifications (eg, phosphorylation),
metabolites, & antibodies.
• These may be detectable in whole blood,
white blood cells, serum, plasma, urine,
normal tissue (eg, buccal mucosa), tumor

3. Introduction:
• The serum a -fetoprotein (AFP) has been
the most commonly used HCC biomarker,
functioning as a risk assessment tool in
patients with cirrhosis, as a screening
tool for early HCC detection, as a
diagnostic tool&as a prognostic tool for
tumor recurrence or patient survival.
• More recently, the scope of applications
for HCC biomarkers has expanded beyond
diagnostic and surveillance/ screening
purposes.
• HCC biomarkers can be used to identify
at-risk populations, stratify patients for
clinical trials, tailor therapy,&predict
treatment response.