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Rojas et al. Hepatoma Research 2018;4:31 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2018.60

Review Open Access

Performance of different biomarkers for the
management of hepatocellular carcinoma

1
2
1
1
1
Ángela Rojas , Yolanda Sánchez-Torrijos , Antonio Gil-Gómez , Chang-Hai Liu , Clara Rodríguez-Rivas ,
María Teresa Ferrer , Manuel Romero-Gómez 1
2
1 Traslational and Clinical Research Laboratory - Liver and Digestive Diseases - CIBERehd, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, Virgen del
Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville 41013, Spain.
2 Unit for the Clinical Management of Digestive Diseases, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, University of Seville, Seville 41013,
Spain.
Correspondence to: Prof. Manuel Romero-Gómez, Head of Unit for the Clinical Management of Digestive Diseases, CIBERehd, Institute
of Biomedicine of Seville, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville 41013, Spain.
E-mail: mromerogomez@us.es
How to cite this article: Rojas Á, Sánchez-Torrijos Y, Gil-Gómez A, Liu CH, Rodríguez-Rivas C, Ferrer MT, Romero-Gómez M.
Performance of different biomarkers for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatoma Res 2018;4:31.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2018.60

Received: 15 May 2018 First Decision: 7 Jun 2018 Revised: 21 Jun 2018 Accepted: 22 Jun 2018 Published: 6 Jul 2018
Science Editor: Guang-Wen Cao Copy Editor: Jun-Yao Li Production Editor: Huan-Liang Wu

Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the second cause of cancer
related death due to latent liver disease, late diagnosis and non-available therapeutic treatment. Liver biopsy is still
the gold standard in order to know the molecular biology of the tumor, its behaviour and invasive characteristics.
Conventional diagnosis methods for HCC detection include imaging and serological tests with low sensitivity and
specificity. In this review, we focus on the potential utility of certain serum biomarkers and a new approach, “liquid
biopsy”, in the management of HCC patients.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, liver biopsy, conventional diagnostic methods, management
b

INTRODUCTION
Liver cancer, known as well as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the fifth most common type of cancer
[1,2]
worldwide and the second cause of cancer related death . Despite recent development of a diagnostic
technics and treatment methods, the prognosis of HCC remains poor. Many patients are diagnosed when
HCC is in advanced stages or due to an underlying liver disease, which results in less time for an appropriate
[3]
treatment .

© The Author(s) 2018. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
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