Seminal plasma AMH is an absolute testicular marker being absent in all OA cases. However, seminal AMH has a poor predictability for successful testicular sperm retrieval in NOA cases.

Background: Cell-free DNA circulating in blood is a candidate biomarker for malignant tumors. Unlike uniformly truncated DNA released from apoptotic non diseased cells, DNA released from necrotic cancer cells varies in size. Objectives: To measure the DNA integrity index in serum and the absolute DNA concentration to assess their clinical utility as potential serum biomarkers for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) compared to CEA and CA19-9. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with CRC, 10 with benign colonic polyps and 20 healthy sex and age matched volunteers, were investigated by real time PCR of ALU repeats (ALU q-PCR) using two sets of primers (115 and 247 bp) amplifying different lengths of DNA fragments. The DNA integrity index was calculated as the ratio of q-PCR results of ALU 247/ ALU 115bp. Results: Serum DNA integrity was statistically significantly higher in CRC patients compared to the benign and control groups (p<0.001). ROC curves for differentiating CRC patients from normal controls and benign groups had areas under curves of 0.90 and 0.85 respectively. Conclusions: The DNA integrity index is superior to the absolute DNA concentration as a potential serum biomarker for screening and diagnosis of CRC. It may also serve as an indicator for monitoring the progression of CRC patients. Combining CEA and CA19-9 with either of the genetic markers studied is better than either of them alone.

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Background and objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the liver. Since the conventional tissue biopsy and AFP have limited value, a new promising diagnostic method” liquid biopsy” has emerged. Cell free DNA is one of the liquid biopsy corner stones along with circulating tumor cells. Aim of the work: The study aims to evaluate the role of cf-DNA in the prediction of HCC. Subjects and methods: Eighty newly diagnosed HCC cases and seventy seven apparently healthy individuals were recruited from the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University. Cf-DNA level is measured by Qubit fluorometer assay and AFP was measured by ELISA for control. Comparisons between quantitative variables were done using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallisand Mann-Whitney. Correlation between quantitative variables were done using Spearman correlation coefficient and a ROC curve was constructed with area under curve analysis performed to detect best cut off value of cf-DNA and AFP for detection of HCC. Results: The median cf-DNA and AFP levels were statistically significant higher in HCC patients (0,11ng/µl and 160.9 ng/ml respectively) than in control group (0.04 ng/ µl and 1.30 ng/ml respectively). Upon plotting ROC curve, cf-DNA and AFP gave a sensitivity of 78% and 93.7% respectively, a specificity of 59.7% and 92.2% respectively. The diagnostic value of cf-DNA in combination with AFP level has slightly improved the specificity (96.1%) on the expense of the sensitivity which was decreased (69.5%). Conclusion: Cf-DNA plays a role in the prediction of HCC but still AFP has the upper hand in the diagnosis of HCC in Egyptian population. Liquid biopsy still hasits own limitations. The techniques of colleting’ liquid”, and detection of cf-DNA must be standardized.