Background: Screening of early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis is the greatest challenge for hepatologists. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the most common non-invasive biomarker used in HCC diagnosis. Objectives and Aims: To make a comparison between the new biomarker Golgi protein 73 (GP73) versus the standard biomarker AFP in the diagnosis of HCC. Methods: Our study was a case-control study, and 60 patients were included in the study. They were divided into two groups: 1) HCC patients with either chronic HBV or HCV infection (n=30); and 2) non-HCC patients with HBV or HCV infection who had either chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis (n=30). In addition, 30 healthy volunteers were included as a control group. Patients were subjected to liver function tests, kidney function tests, serum Golgi protein 73 and AFP levels. Imaging diagnosis of HCC was done by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based on American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) practice guidelines. Results: Statistically significant differences between groups in terms of serum AFP (p<0.001) and GP73 (p<0.001) were found. Non-HCC patients (chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis) and HCC patients had significantly higher AFP and GP73 than the control group. In addition, patients with HCC had significantly higher AFP and GP73 than chronic hepatitis and cirrhotic patients. GP73 had higher diagnostic performance than AFP. At a cutoff value of ≥8.4 ng/mL, GP73 yielded a sensitivity of 86.7% and specificity of 89% for the discrimination between HCC and normal populations. Similarly, at a cutoff value of ≥8.45 ng/mL, GP73 yielded a sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity of 84% for the discrimination between HCC patients and non-HCC patients. On the other hand, AFP at a cutoff value of ≥2.4 ng/mL yielded a sensitivity of 75.4% and specificity of 90% for the discrimination between HCC and normal populations; and at a cutoff value of ≥20.85 ng/mL, AFP yielded a sensitivity of 72.2% and specificity of 86.2% for the discrimination between HCC and non-HCC patients. Conclusion: Golgi protein 73 is a promising and accurate biomarker for early detection of HCC.

Background Colorectal cancer is a common and lethal disease. It is estimated that approximately 145,600 new cases of large bowel cancer are diagnosed annually in the USA. MiRNA-223 and miRNA-182 have been reported in various cancers, such as lung, gastric, breast and colorectal cancer and proposed to be valid and reliable for diagnosis as well as prognosis. Aim This study aimed to determine the role of miR-223 and miR-182 as novel biomarkers for early detection and prognosis of CRC. Patient and Methods This case–control study was conducted at the department of Internal Medicine, Aswan University Hospital, in the period from the 1st of February 2020 to the 20th of April 2021. Thirty-five cases and thirty age- and sex-matched controls were included in the study. All patients were subject to complete clinical evaluation, routine investigations, occult blood in stool, serum levels of CEA and CA 19–9, serum levels of miR-223 and miR-182 by quantitative PCR. Results Significant difference between the two studied groups regarding biomarker changes was found. ROC curve analysis showed that the new markers had excellent diagnostic as well as prognostic criteria. Micro-RNA-223 diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, FDR and FOR were 97%, 97.1%, 96.7%, 97%, 97%, 3.3% and 2.9%, respectively. Also, micro-RNA-182 diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, FDR and FOR were 97%, 98%, 96%, 96%, 98%, 3.9% and 2%, respectively. Conclusion MiR-223 and miR-182 have been discovered to be relevant and reliable biomarkers for the early identification and prognosis of CRC. Increased levels of miR-223 and miR-182 were associated with increased risk of disease progression, and the more accurate the value of miR-223 and miR-182, the earlier the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

No abstract