@article{Badr2018, 
author = {Sana Amhimmid Badr and Maryan Waheeb Fahmi and Manal Mahmoud Nomir and Mamdouh Mohammad El-Shishtawy},
title = {Calcium channel α2δ1 subunit as a novel biomarker for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma},
year = {2018},
journal = {Cancer Biology & Medicine},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {52-60},
keywords = {Hepatocellular carcinoma, tumor initiation cell marker, α2δ1 subunit, annexin A2, alpha-fetoprotein},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2017.0167},
doi = {10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2017.0167},
abstract = {ObjectiveHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide. The identification of new simple, inexpensive and highly accurate markers for HCC diagnosis and screening is needed. This case-control study evaluates the role of annexin A2 and voltage-gated calcium channels α2δ1 subunit as serum biomarkers for HCC diagnosis.MethodsThe study comprised three groups: group 1, 50 patients with an initial diagnosis of HCC associated with chronic hepatitis C virus infection; group 2, 25 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and cirrhosis without any evidence of HCC; and group 3, 15 healthy controls. All participants were subjected to clinical and laboratory investigations, and radiological scanning. The serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), annexin A2, and the α2δ1 subunit were evaluated by using ELISA technique.ResultsThe serum levels of annexin A2 significantly increased in patients with HCC (10.4±2.5 ng/mL; P<0.001) or with cirrhosis (9.31±1.8 ng/mL;P<0.001) comparing to that of healthy controls (0.296±0.09 ng/mL). However, there was no significant difference in serum annexin A2 levels in patients with HCC comparing to those with cirrhosis. Serum α2δ1 subunit significantly increased in patients with HCC (20.12±3.7 ng/mL) comparing to that in patients with cirrhosis (10.41±3.4 ng/mL, P<0.001) and healthy controls (10.2±2.9 ng/mL, P<0.001).ConclusionsThe serum α2δ1 subunit may function as a new biomarker for HCC diagnosis. Conversely, serum annexin A2 has low diagnostic value as an HCC marker, especially in patients with underlying cirrhosis.}
}