Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy and most frequently develops in patients with cirrhosis. Surveillance strategies are recommended in high-risk groups because early detection of small lesions improves the likelihood of curative treatment. This study investigated the prospective clinical significance of serum levels of anti-Ku86 and plasma levels of lamin B1and vimentin as early markers of HCC. We recruited 74 patients at Assiut University Hospital-37 with HCC and 37 with chronic liver disease (liver cirrhosis patients)-and 36 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Lamin B1 and vimentin mRNA expression levels were evaluated by reverse transcription-PCR and serum levels of anti-Ku86 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Compared with liver disease patients and controls, HCC patients showed higher levels of lamin B1 mRNA (sensitivity, 96%; specificity, 65%), vimentin mRNA (sensitivity, 94%; specificity, 92%), and anti-Ku86 (sensitivity, 94%; specificity, 80%). LaminB1 levels were significantly higher in patients with a tumor size < 2 cm than in patients with tumors 2-5 cm and >5cm in size. Lamin B1 had significant positive correlations with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (P=0.034) and anti-Ku86 (P=0.002). Receiver operating characteristic curves for differentiating HCCfrom liver cirrhosis revealed a higher area under the curve(AUC).for vimentin than for AFP, lamin B1, and anti-Ku86 for the diagnosis of HCC (P<0.001). Circulating levels of anti-Ku86, lamin B1,and vimentin might be potential surrogate markers of HCC, either alone or in combination with AFP. However, independent and discriminative serological biomarkers with higher sensitivity and specificity are still needed for the early detection of HCC.

Background/Aims: Genetic alterations, including changes in the expression of spastic paraplegia 20 (SPG20) and serine/threonine protein kinase 31 (STK31), may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Identification of such changes is suitable for the recognition of tumors at an early stage, which would significantly improve patient survival. While recent studies have identified that SPG20 and STK31 expression levels increase in CRC tissues, their use as a biomarker is yet to be investigated. Our aim was to determine whether circulating SPG20 and STK31 mRNAlevels could help distinguish between patients with CRC and healthy individuals. Additionally, we aimed to analyze the correlation between SPG20 and STK31 expression patterns and the tumor stage in patients with CRC. Methods: Venous blood samples from 50 patients with CRC and 50 healthy controls were used. RNA extraction was performed, and the mRNA expression of SPG20 and STK31 was determined using RT-qPCR. Results: STK31 and SPG20 mRNA levels were significantly upregulated in patients compared to those in controls. There was a strong positive correlation between the expression of the two potential tumor biomarkers, STK31 and SPG20 (R=0.636, p=0.000). However, there was no significant relationship between the expression of STK31 or SPG20 and patient data, including demographic, clinical, pathological, and laboratory data. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between the expression level of STK31, but not SPG20, and patient disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Conclusion: Circulating mRNA levels of SPG20 and STK31 could be used as ideal noninvasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of CRC. They could assist the oncologist in recommending appropriate management strategies for individual patients.