Title:Diagnosis of the Initial Stage of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review
Volume: 30
Issue: 22
Author(s): Krishana Kumar Sharma, Mohd. Mohsin, Piyush Mittal, Zeeshan Ali, Nishat Fatma, Prashant Upadhyay, Ritu Gupta, Anurag Verma and Gajendra Kumar*
Affiliation:
- Department of
Chemistry, Constituent Government College (M.J.P.R.U. Bareilly), Hasanpur, Uttar Pradesh 244241, India
Keywords:
Biomarkers, early diagnostics, hepatocellular carcinoma, imaging, fluid biopsy, cancer.
Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
There may be more than a million instances of hepatocellular carcinoma by 2025, making it a persistent
concern for global health. The most common form of hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for more than 90% of
cases. There is no known cure for hepatocellular carcinoma, which is usually detected late in life. Unlike most
other common malignancies, such as lung, prostate, and breast cancers, where mortality rates are declining,
rates of death are rising by around 2-3% every year. It is extremely difficult to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma
in its early stages. Alpha-fetoprotein serology studies and ultrasonography (US) monitoring were historically
the primary methods for early detection of hepatocellular cancer. However, the sensitivity or specificity of
ultrasonography/alpha-fetoprotein (US/AFP) is not high enough to detect hepatocellular carcinoma in its early
stages. Alpha-fetoprotein, or AFP, is an amino acid that is normally produced by the liver or yolk sac of an embryonic
baby. In adults, AFP levels are typically modest. Adults with high levels of AFP have been associated
with several illnesses, the most well-known of which are certain types of cancer. It is still possible to diagnose
hepatocellular carcinoma early because of current technological advancements. We address the advancements
in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in this article, with a focus on new imaging techniques and diagnostic
markers for early-stage tumor identification.