What is it about?

A significant advance in the HCC molecular field pushes researchers to search for the possibility of detecting diagnostic/prognostic serological and molecular markers and scores including AFP, Des-gamma carboxy prothrombin, genes (allelic imbalance [AI] in microsatellites [MSs]), proteins and miRNAs that may act as red flags to aid in the early detection of HCC recurrence. Our review has focused on the possible molecular onco-drivers’ for HCC recurrence post-LT that may represent diagnostic/prognostic tools and scoring models for the proper selection of LT candidates with HCC.

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Why is it important?

Recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the commonest causes of cancer-related mortality. Thus, advances in the HCC molecular features have paid researchers great attention to identifying the different risk factors that could aid in liver cancer initiation and progression for earlier prediction of post-operative HCC recurrence risk.

Perspectives

Significant progress has been done in the molecular field of HCC. Several risk HCC drivers including genes, proteins and miRNAs have been evaluated as biomarkers and scoring models that could predict metastatic recurrence after curative treatments. However, further analysis with comparative evaluation should be performed even if it is costly and time consuming. Moreover, the impact of HCC-related minor genetic/epigenetic aberrations on survival outcomes needs to be more clarified; also it is uncertain whether molecular changes detected with low clonality could affect the tumour's biological trait. Therefore, evidence is currently insufficient to recommend any hypothesis for future studies on larger scales to verify the positive results.

Lecturer Nourhan Badwei
Ain Shams University

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This page is a summary of: Molecular Clues for Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Liver Transplantation, Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology, September 2023, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2023.02.006.
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