Circulating mRNA of Lamin B1 for Detection of Early Stages of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and one of the major causes of death, because of its high frequency and poor prognosis. Conventional tests of liver function cannot distinguish HCC from other hepatic masses or from cirrhosis. Accordingly, diagnosis of HCC depends mainly on the detection of tumor mass by diagnostic modalities such as ultrasound, spiral CT and liver histopathology by biopsy, in addition to tumor markers in the sera of the HCC patients. Serum AFP concentrations have been shown to be the most useful tumor marker with regards to HCC but it may be normal in up to 40% of patients; lacking sensitivity. Moreover, it may be increased in hepatitis and cirrhotic patients; lacking specificity. The availability of a more sensitive serological marker that distinguishes between HCC and benign hepatic lesionswould therefore, be very useful for early and specific diagnosis. Lamin B1 is an intermediate filament protein that forms a network lining the inner nuclear membrane, it forms the major component of nuclear lamina which provides structural support of the nuclear envelope. It is involved in controlling gene expression via the organization of chromatin, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication, repair and transcription. Lamin B1 was also found to control oxidative stress. It works as transcriptional co-regulator whose dysregulation may initiate cancer signaling processes.