Marcadores tumorales séricos en carcinoma hepatocelular

Abstract

Liver cancer is one of the most common and deadly malignant neoplasms worldwide. There are differences and variations with the incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma worldwide. Important risk factors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma development include liver cirrhosis, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection, excessive alcohol consumption, ingestion of aflatoxin B1, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Advances in genetics and molecular biology have improved our knowledge of accumulation of genetic defects during tumor development. Therefore, early detection and adequate therapy are crucial to increase survival and improve the life quality of Hepatocellular Carcinoma patients. In this review, an overview of the potential of serum-associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis is presented. To this end, we reviewed the literature on tumor markers such as alpha-fetoprotein and the alpha-fetoprotein fraction that binds to lectin (L3-AFP) and Carboxypromothrin Degamma. New markers were investigated for their diagnostic accuracy and potential for Hepatocellular Carcinoma detection. However, the clinical usefulness of these biomarkers, applied either individually or combined, in the early detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, as well as their usefulness in therapeutic decision-making and prognosis need to be carefully evaluated and validated.