Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Analysis of Protein-Associated Glycans
Section: For Industry
Categories: "Diagnostics"
Reference #: 2007-018
OTC Contact: David Humphrey, Ph.D. (Directory Information | Send a Message)
Description
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents an increasing health problem in the United States and around the world. Serum alpha-fetoprotein, the currently used clinical marker, is elevated in only around 60% of HCC patients. Therefore, the identification of additional markers is expected to have a significant public health impact. A collaborative research team from Georgetown University and the University of Indiana, have identified a set of three N-glycan markers that are sufficient for the detection of HCC with 90% prediction accuracy in a population with high rates of hepatitis C viral infection. .
Applications
This technology encompasses new set of markers for the detection and diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.Advantages
- Defining clinically applicable markers of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma has the potential to improve detection and prognosis of the disease.
- These markers could be used to screen high-risk populations, evaluate disease progression and test new intervention strategies.
Stage of Development
Mass spectrometry was used for a quantitative comparison of 83 N-glycans in serum samples of 202 participants (73 HCC cases, 77 age- and gender-matched cancer free controls, and 52 patients with chronic liver disease). A combination of three selected N-glycans was sufficient to classify HCC with 90% sensitivity and 89% specificity in an independent validation set of patients with chronic liver disease. The three N-glycans remained associated with HCD after adjustment for chronic viral infection and other known covariates, whereas the other glycans increased significantly at earlier stages of the progression of chronic viral infection to HCC.Relevant Publications
“Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Glycomic Analysis”. Clinical Cancer Research 2009, 15, 1808-1813.
Patent Status
Patents are currently pending.
