Potential of the use of methylation biomarkers for diagnostics and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in liquid biopsy

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common types of liver cancer that is mainly diagnosed at advanced stages. Since molecular markers that are currently used in clinical practice are not sensitive enough for effective diagnosis of HCC, active search of new biomarkers is underway. Usе of minimally invasive liquid biopsy allows to detect specific markers of tumor growth and particularly alterations of gene methylation patterns in cell-free DNA distinctive for HCC, in biological liquids of patients. In the present review the most promising diagnostic and prognostic methylation biomarkers that were detected in cell-free DNA of HCC patients are being considered.

Keywords

• гепатоцеллюлярная карцинома
• жидкостная биопсия
• биомаркер метилирования