Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common worldwide cancer, but biomarkers for early detection remain challengeable. TIE2-expressing monocyte (TEMs) cells display pro-tumoral activities. The aim of the study was to examine the expression of TEM which is defined as CD14+ TIE2+ and angiopoietin-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma and its potential use as a diagnostic tumor marker in HCC patients with HCV induced liver cirrhosis.
Methods: This study was conducted on 112 Patients admitted to our tropical medicine department and 38 controls divided into two groups: Group I comprised 78 patients with HCC; group II comprised 34 patients with cirrhosis. Both groups were compared with 38 (age and sex-matched) healthy persons as group III.
Results: level of TEMs & serum Ang-2 were significantly higher in HCC patients compared with liver cirrhotic patients and healthy controls. Sensitivity & specificity in diagnosis of HCC respectively were CD14 (89.7%, 83.3%), TIE 2 (76.9%, 83.3%). Ang-2 (76.9%, 66.7%).
Conclusions: These results suggest that TEMs & Ang-2 increase in patients with HCC supporting the idea that TEMs & Ang-2 can be used as a diagnostic marker for HCC, especially among the high-risk group of patients.