Biology and significance of alpha-fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma.
alpha-fetoprotein
biomarkers
hepatocellular carcinoma
Journal
Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver
ISSN: 1478-3231
Titre abrégé: Liver Int
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101160857
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
12 2019
12 2019
Historique:
received:
16
05
2019
revised:
19
07
2019
accepted:
03
08
2019
pubmed:
23
8
2019
medline:
6
10
2020
entrez:
23
8
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths globally due, in part, to the majority of patients being diagnosed with intermediate or advanced stage disease. Our increased understanding of the heterogeneous molecular pathogenesis of HCC has led to significant developments in novel targeted therapies. Despite these advances, there remains a high unmet need for new treatment options. HCC is a complex disease with multiple pathogenic mechanisms caused by a variety of risk factors, making it difficult to characterize with a single biomarker. In fact, numerous biomarkers have been studied in HCC, but alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) remains the most widely used and accepted serum marker since its discovery over 60 years ago. This review summarizes the most relevant studies associated with the regulation of AFP at the gene and protein levels; the pathophysiology of AFP as a pro-proliferative protein; and the correlation of AFP with molecular HCC subclasses, the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and angiogenesis. Also described are the historical and current uses of AFP for screening and surveillance, diagnosis, its utility as a prognostic and predictive biomarker and its role as a tumour antigen in HCC. Taken together, these data demonstrate the relevance of AFP for patients with HCC and identify several remaining questions that will benefit from future research.
Substances chimiques
AFP protein, human
0
Antigens, Neoplasm
0
Biomarkers
0
alpha-Fetoproteins
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
2214-2229Subventions
Organisme : Cancer Research UK
ID : 26813
Pays : United Kingdom
Informations de copyright
© 2019 The Authors. Liver International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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