Diagnostic Value of MicroRNA (miR-122) in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in Egyptian Patients

Background: In Egypt, the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection is 14% of whole population and about 80% of the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma have underling hepatitis C.

Aim: To explore the diagnostic value of serum miR-122 as non-invasive diagnostic markers of (HCV)- (HCC).

Methodology: The study included 102 healthy controls (group I), in addition to 228 patients, they were divided into 2 groups: 120 CHC patients (group II), and 108 hepatitis C patients with HCC (group III). All samples underwent full clinical assessment and laboratory investigations additionally to the detection of the concentration of blood serum miR-122 expression by RT-PCR. Selected biomarkers were assessed, evaluated and correlated with degree of liver damage.

Results: Revealed that miR-122 had the highest efficiency in prediction of liver cell damage. Also, miR-122 was strongly correlated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and alpha fetoprotein (α-FP) in HCC patients.

Conclusions: Plasma miR-122 can be considered as a potential biomarker, for detection of HCC combined with VEGF and α -FP.