摘要
Biomarkers for surveillance, diagnosis and prediction of prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) are currently not ready for introduction into clinical practice because of limited sensitivity and specificity. Especially for the early detection of small HCC novel biomarkers are needed to improve the current effectiveness of screening performed byultrasound. The use of high-throughput technologies in hepatocellular research allows to identify molecules involved in the complex pathways in hepatocarcinogenesis. Several invasive and non-invasive biomarkers have been identified already and have been evaluated in different clinical settings. Gene signatures with prognostic potential have been identified by gene expression profiling from tumor tissue. However, a single "all-in-one" biomarker that fits all-surveillance, diagnosis, prediction of prognosis-has not been found so far. The future of biomarkers most probably lies in a combination of non-invasive biomarkers, imaging and clinical parameters in a surveillance setting. Molecular profiling of tumorous and non-tumorous liver tissue may allow a prediction of prognosis for the individual patient and hopefully clear the way for individual treatment approaches. This article gives an overview on current developments in biomarker research in HCC with a focus on currently available and novel biomarkers, in particular on micro RNA.
Biomarkers for surveillance, diagnosis and predictionof prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma（HCC） are currently not ready for introduction intoclinical practice because of limited sensitivity andspecificity. Especially for the early detection of smallHCC novel biomarkers are needed to improve thecurrent effectiveness of screening performed byultrasound. The use of high-throughput technologiesin hepatocellular research allows to identify moleculesinvolved in the complex pathways in hepatocarcinogenesis.Several invasive and non-invasive biomarkershave been identified already and have been evaluatedin different clinical settings. Gene signatures withprognostic potential have been identified by geneexpression profiling from tumor tissue. However, asingle ＂all-in-one＂ biomarker that fits all-surveillance,diagnosis, prediction of prognosis-has not been foundso far. The future of biomarkers most probably lies in acombination of non-invasive biomarkers, imaging andclinical parameters in a surveillance setting. Molecularprofiling of tumorous and non-tumorous liver tissuemay allow a prediction of prognosis for the individualpatient and hopefully clear the way for individualtreatment approaches. This article gives an overviewon current developments in biomarker research inHCC with a focus on currently available and novelbiomarkers, in particular on microRNA.
