A Novel Blood-Based Panel of Methylated DNA and Protein Markers for Detection of Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2020.08.065
• Publication Date: 2020-09-02T03:44:10Z
• Authors: Naga P. Chalasani; Tiruvidaimarudur ...; Abhik Bhattacharya; Marilyn C. Olson; David K. Edwards V; Lewis R. Roberts; John B. Kisiel; K. Rajender Reddy; Graham P. Lidgard; Scott C. Johnson; Janelle J. Bruinsma
• Keywords: Liver disease

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be treated effectively if detected at an early stage. Recommended surveillance strategies for at-risk patients include ultrasound with or without α-fetoprotein (AFP), but their sensitivity is suboptimal. We sought to develop a novel, blood-based biomarker panel improved early-stage HCC detection.In multicenter, case-control study, we collected blood specimens from and age-matched controls underlying liver disease HCC. Ten previously reported methylated DNA markers (MDMs) associated HCC, B3GALT6 (reference marker), 3 candidate proteins, including AFP, were assayed analyzed by logistic regression algorithm predict cases. The accuracy of the multi-target was compared that other biomarkers detection.The study included 135 cases 302 controls. identified MDMs (HOXA1, EMX1, TSPYL5), 2 protein (AFP AFP-L3) higher (71%, 95% CI: 60-81%) 90% specificity than GALAD score (41%, 30-53%) AFP ≥7.32 ng/mL (45%, 33-57%). AUC detecting any stage 0.92 0.87 0.81 alone. performed equally well in important subgroups based on etiology, presence cirrhosis, sex.We developed demonstrates high These data support potential liquid biopsy detection clinically benefit patients. This registered ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03628651).