Background and study aim: HCC diagnosis is mostly dependent on imaging studies as well as laboratory tests. The aim of this study is to evaluate possible significance of circulating Linc00152 level as a potential diagnostic marker for HCC diagnosis among Egyptian patients.
Patients and Methods: This Cohort (Prospective observational) study was conducted on 60 patients, who were further divided into three groups; 30 patients with cirrhosis and HCC on top (group I), this group was further subdivided into: 15 HCC patients (stage C and D) according to Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system (group IA) and 15 HCC patients (stage A and B) according to BCLC staging system (group IB); 15 cirrhotic patients without HCC (group II), lastly 15 healthy subjects with matched age and sex as a control Group (group III). All were subjected to history taking, clinical evaluation, basic liver functions, AFP, ultrasound abdomen followed by Triphasic CT abdomen to document presence of HCC and Linc00152 level assessment
Results: Circulating Linc00152 was elevated in-group I compared to two other groups. Serum Linc00152 yielded showed 90% sensitivity and 66.67% specificity in discriminating HCC from cirrhosis, compared to AFP that showed 63.33% sensitivity and 60% specificity, Combination of Linc00152 and AFP might possess a higher ability to discriminate between HCC and cirrhosis rather than without combination.
Conclusion: HCC is clearly accompanied by over expression of serum Linc00152. This study suggested that Linc00152 may be promising diagnostic markers for early HCC, also for cirrhosis detection.