Background and study aim:  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is commonly occurs in association with cirrhosis which is the end stage of HCV infection. Although early HCC detection is important for a better prognosis, efficient biomarkers are still needed. The Lactadherin protein also referred as milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (MFG-E8), is a significant opsonin for programed cell death and encourages apoptotic cell clearance by the macrophages. An association between Lactadherin with liver diseases has been reported.The purpose of this investigation was to determine serum Lactadherin concentrations as biomarker for HCC detection in cirrhotics.
Patients and Methods: This case-control research had three groups: patients with cirrhosis but no HCC (Group I), patients with both cirrhosis and HCC (Group II), and healthy volunteers (Group III). Clinical and laboratory data, including results from imaging, Lactadherin levels, and liver function tests, were analyzed using a number of statistical tests.
Results: Lactadherin serum concentrations were lower in patients diagnosed with HCC than in those diagnosed with cirrhosis. There was no difference with statistical significance among the involved cirrhotic patients with no HCC and other healthy involved controls.
Conclusion: Lactadherin seems to be involved  in  the liver  conditions initiation and development, such as HCC in cirrhotic individuals.  Although it cannot  diagnose  cirrhosis  itself, it  may be used  as  a  possible  HCC biomarker in the context of cirrhotic liver.