Early monitoring values of oncogenic signalling molecules for hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

The prevention and early diagnosis of liver cancer remains a global medical challenge. During the malignant transformation of hepatocytes, a variety of oncogenic cellular signalling molecules, such as novel high mobility group-Box 3, angiopoietin-2, Golgi protein 73, glypican-3, Wnt3a (a signalling molecule in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway), and secretory clusterin, can be expressed and secreted into the blood. These signalling molecules are derived from different signalling pathways and may not only participate in the malignant transformation of hepatocytes but also become early diagnostic indicators of hepatocarcinogenesis or specific targeted molecules for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy. This article reviews recent progress in the study of several signalling molecules as sensitive biomarkers for monitoring hepatocarcinogenesis.

Keywords: Hepatocarcinogenesis; Cell signals; Specific biomarkers; Early diagnosis

Core Tip: The early monitoring or diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still medical challenge, and identifying novel biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity for HCC are urgently needed. Recent progress in several oncogenic cellular signalling molecules that derived from different signalling pathways were reviewed, such as novel high mobility group-Box 3, angiopoietin-2, Golgi protein 73, glypican-3, Wnt3a (a signalling molecule in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway), and secretory clusterin. They might not only participate in the malignant transformation of hepatocytes but also become early diagnostic indicators of hepatocarcinogenesis or specific targeted molecules for HCC therapy.