Serum Dickkopf-1 in Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Egyptian Cirrhotic Patients

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although the prognosis of patients with HCC is generally poor, the 5-year survival rate is > 70% if patients are diagnosed at an early stage. However, early diagnosis of HCC is complicated by the coexistence of inflammation and cirrhosis. Thus, novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis of HCC are required. This study was carried out on 170 patients that divided into two groups Group 1 consists of 90 patients having HCC and Group 2 (control group) consists of 80 patients subdivided into 2 subgroups 40 patients having liver cirrhosis and 40 healthy persons. Those patients were selected from Ain Shams University in Hepatology and gastroenterology department The aim of this study is to explore the value of serum Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) in early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian cirrhotic patients. All the patients included in our study were subjected to full history taking and clinical examination, laboratory investigation including liver function tests, alpha -