<p>The serum proteomics tracking of hepatocellular carcinoma early recurrence following radical resection</p>

Abstract

The serum proteomics tracking of hepatocellular carcinoma early recurrence following radical resection Hongzhi Liu,1,2,* Hui Chen,1,* Xiaomo Wu,3,4 Ying Sun,2 Yingchao Wang,2 Yongyi Zeng,1,2 Geng Chen,2 Xiaolong Liu,2 Xiaohua Xing,2,5 Bixing Zhao,2 Jingfeng Liu1,21Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350007, People’s Republic of China; 2The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350025, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel 4056, Switzerland; 4Dermatology Institute of Fuzhou, Dermatology Hospital of Fuzhou, Fuzhou 350025, People’s Republic of China; 5The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: There is still lacking of highly sensitive and specific biomarkers for the prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) early recurrence, which has hindered further improvement of the clinical outcomes. We aim to find highly sensitive and specific biomarkers for the prediction of HCC recurrence.Patients and methods: By using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based multidimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (2D LC-MS/MS) technique, we have quantitatively investigated and monitored the proteome alterations of a series of serum after radical resection during the follow-up of 4 HCC patients.Results: A total of 27 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in serum were identified to be closely associated with the early recurrence of HCC, and these DAPs were particularly concentrated within ERK1/2 and nuclear factor-κ beta signaling pathways, suggesting the dysregulation of these two pathways played an important role in the pathological process of HCC early recurrence. Further investigation of a cohort of patients confirmed that the high serum level of PGK1 was closely associated with HCC early recurrence and poor prognosis. In addition, the serum level of PGK1 could be complementary with AFP to further improve the sensitivity and specificity for predicting the relapse of HCC.Conclusion: PGK1 might be an independent factor for the recurrence of HCC. And the PGK1 could be complementary with AFP to further improve the sensitivity and specificity in prognostic prediction of HCC relapse.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, early recurrence, serum proteomics, iTRAQ, PGK1