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Chia et al. Hepatoma Res 2019;5:9 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2018.112

Review Open Access

Molecular diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma:
trends in biomarkers combination to enhance early
cancer detection

Tiong Sun Chia, Kwong Fai Wong, John M. Luk

Arbele Limited, Hong Kong Science & Technology Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.

Correspondence to: Dr. John M. Luk, Rm 522, Biotech Center 2, 11W Science Park Ave, Hong Kong Science & Technology Park, Shatin,
New Territories, Hong Kong. E-mail: dr.johnluk@gmail.com

How to cite this article: Chia TS, Wong KF, Luk JM. Molecular diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: trends in biomarkers combination
to enhance early cancer detection. Hepatoma Res 2019;5:9. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2018.112

Received: 3 Dec 2018 First Decision: 9 Jan 2019 Revised: 22 Feb 2019 Accepted: 25 Feb 2019 Published: 29 Mar 2019

Science Editor: Jin-Lin Hou Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Huan-Liang Wu

Abstract
Despite of the advances in clinical imaging and applied research in proteomic biomarkers, liver cancer, especially
hepatocellular carcinoma remains detected at the very late and advanced stages when curable treatments are unavailable
and ineffective. In this regard, there are still huge unmet medical needs in developing and clinically validating those high-
potential protein biomarkers preferably in liquid biopsy samples. This review provides a glimpse of emerging biomarkers
together with detection tools and techniques which are potentially commercially available to the markets. We also
discuss several diagnostic biomarkers having therapeutic potential for developing first-in-class medicines.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, biomarkers, targets, α-fetoprotein, cadherin-17, Yes-associated protein, AXL,
Trop2

INTRODUCTION
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-
[1]
related deaths worldwide . The prognosis of HCC is generally poor, especially for late-stage malignancies,
but a cure is possible if it is diagnosed at the early stages. In fact, 5-year survival for early stage HCC after
[2]
curative treatments is as high as 70% . This highlights the uttermost importance of having a convenient,
accurate and affordable diagnostic technique for early stage HCC.

© The Author(s) 2019. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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