ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and rapidly fatal malignancies worldwide. Multiple risk factors are associated with HCC disease etiology, with the highest incidence in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), although other factors such as genetic makeup, environmental exposure, and lifestyle (alcohol consumption) are involved. As a common malignant solid tumor, HCC is characterized by fast inltrating growth, early metastasis, high-grade malignancy, and poor therapeutic efcacy. It is a highly vascular tumor dependent on neovascularization and one of the most common and rapidly developing malignancies, especially in Asian countries. HCC treatment options are severely limited by the frequent
15.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 338 15.2 Hepatoma-Specic AFP and AFP mRNA ................................................................................. 339
15.2.1 Serum Total AFP ............................................................................................................ 339 15.2.2 Hepatoma-Specic AFP ................................................................................................. 339 15.2.3 Circulating AFP mRNA ................................................................................................. 340
15.3 Hepatoma-Specic GGT Isoenzyme ...........................................................................................341 15.3.1 Serum Total GGT Level ..................................................................................................341 15.3.2 Hepatoma-Specic GGT .................................................................................................341
15.4 GPC-3 and Its Gene Transcription .............................................................................................. 342 15.4.1 GPC-3 in HCC ................................................................................................................ 342 15.4.2 GPC-3 mRNA ................................................................................................................. 344
15.5 TGF-β1 and TGF-β1 mRNA ........................................................................................................ 345 15.5.1 TGF-β1 in HCC ............................................................................................................... 345 15.5.2 TGF-β1 mRNA ................................................................................................................ 345
15.6 IGF-II and IGF-II mRNA ........................................................................................................... 346 15.6.1 IGF-II in HCC ................................................................................................................. 346 15.6.2 IGF-II mRNA ................................................................................................................. 347
15.7 Genetic Alterations of Telomerase in HCC ................................................................................ 348 15.8 HSP Expression ........................................................................................................................... 348
