Aim: To explore the potential usefulness of serum microRNA
(miR-122) as non-invasive diagnostic marker for hepatitis C virus
(HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The
study has been conducted on 100 participants and were divided into 4
equal groups: Group I; Twenty five normal, healthy individuals. age
and gender-matched healthy volunteers (control group). Group II;
Twenty five chronic HCV patients without cirrhosis. Group III;
Twenty five HCV related cirrhosis without HCC. Group IV; Twenty
five HCV-related HCC (proved radiologically by abdominal ultrasonography
(US) & Triphasic abdominal computed tomography (CT). All
participants underwent full clinical assessment and laboratory
investigations in addition to the evaluation of the level of serum miR-
122 by RT-PCR. Results: microRNA-122 displayed significant fold
increase in expression level in chronic hepatitis group (9.85), and less
significant fold increase in cirrhosis group (3.73) and significant
fold increase in expression level in HCC group (7.46). Comparing
serum miR-122 expression level between different studied groups
displayed that, No significant fold change in miR-122 expression
was found between different groups and that miRNA122 had no
significant up-regulation in HCC patients in comparison to non-HCC
patients (Hepatitis and Cirrhosis); (P value = 0.682). Specificity &
sensitivity was 94% & 16% respectively, with AUROC (0.529).
Conclusion: miR-122 could not be used as a biomarker for early
detection of HCC in HCV related cirrhosis.