ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess serum levels of endocan & VEGF in patients with hepatitis C virus-related HCC and their diagnostic and predictive value of mortality.MethodsA total of 195 patients with CHC were subdivided into the following two groups: 105 HCV cirrhotic patients with HCC and 90 HCV cirrhotic patients without HCC. Sixty apparently healthy subjects served as the control group. The serum VEGF and endocan were assessed by ELISA.ResultsThe mean serum endocan level was 4257.6± 847.6 pg/mL in HCC patients, compared to 2099.2± 459.6 pg/mL in liver cirrhosis patients without HCC. VEGF levels in the HCC group were non-significantly higher than those of the non-HCC group, and control group. Endocan at cut-off value 2967 pg/ml had higher sensitivity and higher specificity in diagnosis of HCC than AFP and VEGF. The median follow up period was 9 months, survival curve analysis was done in HCC group and showed that probability of survival among HCC group with higher levels of VEGF and endocan were significantly lower than that patients with low levels. In HCC patients, elevated serum endocan levels were significantly associated with poor hepatic functions and a greater number and size of tumours. Multivariate analysis showed that serum endocan levels (≥4000 pg/ml), as well as elevated serum fetoprotein (>100 ng/dl), were independent prognostic biomarkers for mortality.ConclusionEndocan may be a useful diagnostic marker for HCC and a good predictor of mortality, especially when combined with AFP and VEGF.
Background. Although hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancy related IntroductionHepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most serious and life threatening complications of chronic liver disease. It represents the 5 th most common malignancy in men, the 7 th in women and the 3 rd malignancy related mortality worldwide. Curative treatment strategy can be achieved if detected in early stages [1][2][3][4]. The role of serum α fetoprotein (AFP), the widely used classical biomarker for HCC, has been stepped down in the recent European and American surveillance guidelines because of low sensitivity and specificity. This is based on the knowledge that almost 80% of small HCCs do not show increased levels of AFP, and the sensitivity decreases to 25% in tumors smaller than 3 cm [5][6][7][8]. Looking for a new marker with a better
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