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Zhang et al. Hepatoma Res 2019;5:14 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2018.117

Review Open Access

Molecular diagnosis and therapy of hepatocellular
carcinoma: achievements and challenges

Xiao-Dong Zhang, Man Zhao

Department of Cancer Research, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.

Correspondence to: Prof. Xiao-Dong Zhang, Department of Cancer Research, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin
Road, Tianjin 300071, China. E-mail: zhangxd@nankai.edu.cn

How to cite this article: Zhang XD, Zhao M. Molecular diagnosis and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: achievements and challenges.
Hepatoma Res 2019;5:14. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2018.117
Received: 12 Dec 2018 First Decision: 18 Mar 2019 Revised: 8 Apr 2019 Accepted: 26 Apr 2019 Published: 10 May 2019

Science Editor: Guang-Wen Cao Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Huan-Liang Wu

Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often associated with pre-existing chronic liver pathologies of different origin
infections of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus. Clinically, the diagnosis and therapy for HCC are very
important for the prognosis of patients. However, current methods for HCC diagnosis and therapy have no an optimal
accuracy due to the tumor heterogeneity and the frequent late diagnosis. This review summarizes the new advances
in molecular diagnosis and therapy of HCC, based on the recent novel biomarkers and new therapeutic strategies for
HCC, including alpha-fetoprotein-L3, glypican-3, heat shock protein 90, dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor
1, paraoxonase 1, highly up-regulated in liver cancer. Moreover, epigenetic regulation, signal pathway, cellular and
molecular targets for the immunotherapy, tumor microenviroment and genome sequencing analysis may serve as
the molecular expression signatures in clinical practice. For promising new treatment strategy of HCC, targeting
molecular therapy based on the restoration of tumor suppressor genes lost and inhibition of oncogenic genes is
attractive. The new clinical trials for other molecular-targeted agents, including pembrolizumab, nivolumab, tivantinib,
lenvatinib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab, are ongoing in clinic. Interestingly, anti-HBV drugs display an amazing
therapy for HBV-related HCC. In future, the global determination of more biomarkers may provide new insights into
the diagnosis of HCC. More importantly, the diagnostic markers should be used to trace patient’s follow-up disease
progression, guiding doctors to judge and prescribe drugs for status of an illness, prognosis and other processes.

Keywords: Molecular diagnosis, therapy, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus

INTRODUCTION
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious health issue globally. The increased trends of HCC will
[1]
remain until 2030 . According to the World Health Organization, HCC is the fifth most common cancer
© The Author(s) 2019. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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