prevalent cancers worldwide. In Egypt, its incidence has been doubling due to hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays an important role in hepatocyte regeneration and had a role in malignant transformation. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) G/G genotype was associated with higher risk for HCC development. This study was done to evaluate the correlation between EGF polymorphism and HCC in patients with HCV. METHODS: Routine investigations for liver cirrhosis and HCC, also EGF genotyping were done on 2 groups; patients with HCV related cirrhosis and patients with newly diagnosed HCC on top of cirrhosis, while the control group performed EGF genotyping only. RESULTS: EGF gene polymorphism 61*G was dominant in HCC patients. The G/G owns the highest concentration when compared with A/A and A/G genotypes, with high statistical significance between studied groups as regard number and percentage (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: EGF gene polymorphism 61*G was associated with HCC risk. Moreover, the increased concentration of EGF was associated with G/G genotype.

Background &Aims: The clinical value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as a marker to detect early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been questioned owing to its low sensitivity and specificity. The purpose of this work was to investigate whether serum Wnt/β-catenin and DKK1 levels in chronic hepatitis C patients could be used as early predictors for the risk of HCC development. Methods: The study was conducted on 37 healthy controls, and 150 CHC patients were divided into three groups: CHC, liver cirrhosis (LC), and HCC patients. AFP, AFP-L3, β-catenin, and DKK-1 were assayed by ELISA. Results: Both β-catenin and DKK1 levels significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the HCC group in comparison to LC and CHC groups. The first cut-off value for DKK-1 was 253 pg/ml with 88% sensitivity and 86% specificity. The second was 301.5 pg/ml with 82 percent sensitivity and 100% specificity. The β-catenin cut-off value was 7.35 ng/ml with 80% sensitivity and 74% specificity. A positive correlation was observed between DKK-1 and β-catenin (r=0.491), DKK-1 and tumor size (r =0.616), and β-catenin and tumor size (r =0.472). Conclusion: DKK-1 and β-catenin may serve as predictors for the progression of CHC and LC into HCC.

Insulin augmentation and glucagon inhibition in cinnamon treated diabetic rats.

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