Serum human endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (endocan) and vascular endothelial growth factor in cirrhotic HCV patients with hepatocellular carcinoma as predictors of mortality

Abstract

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.

<p>Safety and Efficacy of Lenvatinib Treatment in Child–Pugh A and B Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Clinical Practice: A Multicenter Analysis</p>

“…PFS and OS were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences were evaluated using the Log rank test. In multivariable analysis of lenvatinib response and OS, factors that were related to the prognosis of HCC according to previous literature 8,9,[13][14][15][16][17][18] were selected, which included CP class, Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage, age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), RDI, sex, experience of TACE, experience of other tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatments, cause of hepatitis, α-fetoprotein (AFP) level, des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) level, body mass index (BMI), extrahepatic metastasis (EHM), major venous invasion (MVI) and liver tumor occupancy rate. Multivariable analysis of response was performed by logistic regression analysis, and the number of explanatory variables was set at 15 for 181 events.…”

&alpha;‑enolase is highly expressed in liver cancer and promotes cancer cell invasion and metastasis

“…At diagnosis, surgery is no longer a treatment option for the majority of patients; therefore, the mortality is very high. The early diagnosis and treatment are key for increasing the survival rate of patients with liver cancer ( 3 ). Currently, commonly used liver cancer markers, such as α fetoprotein, have a certain specificity; however, the majority of markers have low sensitivity.…”

Endocan: A Key Player of Cardiovascular Disease

“…The 5 and 10-year cumulative survival rates of patients with serum endocan levels <2.0 ng/mL were 97.1% and 87.4%, while those with concentrations ≥2.0 ng/mL were 85.8 and 64.4%, respectively ( 71 ). In patients with liver cancer, elevated serum endocan and VEGF levels are significantly associated with liver dysfunction and tumor progression ( 72 ). Serum endocan level may be an independent prognostic biomarker of infection and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, especially when combined with VEGF.…”