Highly Sensitive Serum miRNA Panel for the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Egyptian Patients with HCV-Related HCC

Objective This study aimed at exploring the potential role of a panel of serum micro-RNA (miRNA) markers in liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods The study included 157 chronic HCV patients and 62 HCC patients who presented to the Cairo University Center for Hepatic Fibrosis, Endemic Medicine Department, from 2015 to 2017. Relevant clinical and laboratory data were collected and sera were subjected to miRNA expression profiling. Eleven miRNA markers were studied and receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to investigate the best cutoff values of the miRNAs that showed altered expression in HCC compared to HCV-associated advanced fibrosis. Results miRNA expression profiling revealed 5 miRNAs (miR-124, miR-141, miR-205, miR-208a, miR-499a) were significantly upregulated and 2 miRNAs were significantly downregulated (miR-103a, miR-15a) in HCC compared to advanced fibrosis patients. No significant difference was observed in miRNA expression between advanced fibrosis and early hepatic fibrosis apart from a significant downregulation of miR-155-5p in advanced fibrosis. Conclusion Serum miRNAs could serve as potential diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of HCC.