[Frontiers in Bioscience S2, 571-577, January 1, 2010]

Clinical biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Marcello Donati1, Giovanna Brancato1, Angelo Donati1

1Surgical Sciences, Organ Transplantations and New Technologies Department. General and Week Surgery O.U. University Hospital of Catania. Via S. Sofia No 78. 95125. Catania, Italy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
2. Introduction
3. Biomarkers
3.1. Primary liver tumors
3.1.1. AFP
3.1.2. Lens-culinars agglutinin (LCA) reactive
3.1.3. DCP(des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin)
3.1.4. Alpha-1-fucosidase.(AFU)
3.1.5. Glypican-3 (GPC 3)
3.1.6. SCCA (squamous cell carcinoma agents)
3.1.7. Others
4. Conclusions
5. References

1. ABSTRACT

The Authors make a review of the most important molecules used today for detecting and screening hepatocellular carcinoma, analyzing their known biological features, advantages and limits especially concerning differential diagnosis from cirrhosis and others diseases. AFP, AFP-L3, DCP, Alpha-1-fucosidase are analyzed and all the current knowledge reviewed, as well as focusing on possible future applications and results of combined determination (what about another word here: evaluation etc) in HCC. Additionally other more recent molecules showing promising future clinical application are cited.