NEW research highlights the potential of proteomics in early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and improving diagnostic accuracy.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Current detection methods remain invasive and limited and patients would highly benefit from early detection tests, especially in high risk populations such as individuals with cirrhosis and hepatitis. A recent study using proteomics has identified key biomarkers that could significantly enhance early diagnosis.
The study measured 1,305 pre-diagnostic proteins using SomaScan Assay Kit, in samples from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS). To identify minute levels of circulating proteins potentially present at early stages of the disease. The researchers compared 54 pairs of healthy individuals who later developed HCC with matched controls who did not develop the cancer, finding 56 elevated proteins associated with HCC. Researchers have identified four proteins; chitinase-3-like protein 1, growth differentiation factor 15, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein, and E-selectin as significant early biomarkers for HCC. Validation in the independent prospective UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project (UKB-PPP) confirmed these biomarkers’ strong associations with HCC, improving the diagnostic model’s accuracy from an AUC of 0.67 to 0.87.
The results of the study underscore the potential of proteomics in revealing pathophysiological changes associated with HCC well before clinical diagnosis. However, despite the promising results, the researchers caution that the limited number of HCC cases in the study cohorts warrants further validation in larger, high-risk populations. This study marks a significant step towards improving early detection of HCC through proteomic biomarkers, which could lead to more timely and effective treatments, ultimately enhancing patient survival rates. Further studies in larger cohorts are needed to confirm these findings and pave the way for clinical application.
Reference:
Zhang X et al. Prediagnostic plasma proteomics profile for hepatocellular carcinoma, JNCI. 2024;djae079
