Epidermal growth factor, its receptor and transforming growth factor-β1 in the diagnosis of HCV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma

Med Oncol. 2013;30(3):673. doi: 10.1007/s12032-013-0673-x. Epub 2013 Aug 3.

Abstract

In this article, we present a study on the levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF), its phosphorylated receptor (p-EGFR) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in the sera of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. The results reveal significant higher serum levels of EGF and TGF-β1 in patients with HCC compared to their level in patients with CHC infection and control subjects. The levels of p-EGFR in HCC and CHC patients show a highly significant difference between patients. Based on the best cutoff value of 914 pg/ml, EGF shows 63.3 % sensitivity and 87.5 % specificity for HCC patients where the area under the curve is 0.81. The p-EGFR shows sensitivity of 63.3 % and specificity of 100 % where the area under the curve is 0.87 for HCC patients based on the best cutoff value of 39 U/mg protein. The best cutoff value (370 pg/ml) for serum TGF-β1 displays sensitivity of 86.7 % and specificity of 100 %, where the area under the curve is 0.97 for HCC patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / blood*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / virology
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / blood*
  • ErbB Receptors / blood*
  • Hepacivirus
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / blood*
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Liver Neoplasms / virology
  • Middle Aged
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / blood*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors