The Potential Role of Dickkopf-1 and β-catenin as Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health challenge; it is estimated that more than 80 million people are chronically infected worldwide, with 3-4 million new infections and 350 000 deaths occuring each year because of HCV –related complications. Egypt is the country with the highest HCV prevalence worldwide. HCV may contribute to carcinogenesis by causing advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, which represents a precancerous state accompanied by increased DNA synthesis. Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver resulting from chronic hepatic inflammation caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis and chronic alcohol abuse, and is characterized by the normal hepatic architecture being replaced with a mixture of parenchymal nodules and fibrosis. HCV is the major causative agent of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), because the majority of HCC cases develop in cirrhotic livers, HCC surveillance with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and ultrasonography (US) has been recommended for persons with cirrhosis; however, the AFP level is insensitive for early diagnosis of the disease. As