Circulating Cell-Free DNA and DNA Integrity as Molecular Diagnostic Tools in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Abstract Objectives We assessed the ability to use circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and the DNA integrity index (DNAII) to detect the transition from liver cirrhosis (LC) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Circulating cfDNA and DNAII were measured in 50 patients with advanced LC and 50 pati...
Saved in:
Published in | American journal of clinical pathology Vol. 158; no. 2; pp. 254 - 262 |
---|---|
Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
US
Oxford University Press
01.08.2022
|
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
Cover
Loading…
Summary: | Abstract
Objectives
We assessed the ability to use circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and the DNA integrity index (DNAII) to detect the transition from liver cirrhosis (LC) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods
Circulating cfDNA and DNAII were measured in 50 patients with advanced LC and 50 patients with HCC who were followed for 1 month after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Fifty healthy participants served as a control group. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to measure circulating cfDNA concentration, and Alu-PCR was used to measure the concentration of Alu repeats, both short fragments (115 base pairs [bp]) and long fragments (247 bp). We compared liquid biopsy results with the relevant traditional markers.
Results
The HCC group showed significantly higher circulating cfDNA concentrations and DNAII values compared with the LC and control groups. No significant differences were found in circulating cfDNA concentrations and DNAII values between the LC and control groups. Circulating cfDNA concentrations decreased significantly after treatment (TACE); areas under the curve of circulating cfDNA concentration and DNAII values were significantly better than those of ɑ-fetoprotein and vascular endothelial growth factor in discriminating between LC and HCC.
Conclusions
The combined use of DNAII with proteins induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist showed better diagnostic performance in HCC. Circulating cfDNA could have a potential role in monitoring HCC treatment. |
---|---|
Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0002-9173 1943-7722 |
DOI: | 10.1093/ajcp/aqac037 |