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Total serum glycan analysis is superior to lectin‐ FLISA for the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Comunale Mary Ann,
Wang Mengjun,
Anbarasan Nikhil,
Betesh Lucy,
Karabudak Aykan,
Moritz Ethan,
Devarajan Karthik,
Marrero Jorge,
Block Timothy M.,
Mehta Anand
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
proteomics – clinical applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1862-8354
pISSN - 1862-8346
DOI - 10.1002/prca.201200125
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , glycan , cirrhosis , glycosylation , glycoprotein , lectin , hepatitis b virus , virus , hepatitis c virus , liver cancer , asymptomatic , biology , medicine , gastroenterology , virology , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
Purpose Hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC ) is a primary cancer of the liver that is predominantly the result of infection with a hepatotropic virus such as hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus. As liver cancer is often asymptomatic, the development of sensitive noninvasive biomarkers is needed for early detection and improved survival. Experimental design We have previously identified alterations in the N ‐linked glycosylation of serum proteins with the development of HCC and identified many of the proteins that contained the altered glycosylation. In the current study, we compared the ability of the identified proteins to diagnose HCC with the total serum glycan analysis. Results Surprisingly, glycan analysis of total serum had the greatest ability to distinguish HCC from cirrhosis with an AUROC of 0.851, a sensitivity of 73% at a specificity of 88%. When total glycan sequencing was combined with alpha‐fetoprotein ( AFP ), the sensitivity increased to 95% at a specificity of 90%. Conclusion and clinical relevance Changes in glycosylation as detected in whole serum could be used to diagnose HCC with greater sensitivity and specificity than that observed through the analysis of specific protein glycoforms or protein levels. Such an assay could have value in the management of those at risk for the development of HCC .