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Semin Liver Dis 2022; 42(02): 188-201
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748924
Review Article

Biomarker Development Using Liquid Biopsy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Lauren Tal Grinspan
1   Division of Liver Diseases, Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York
,
Augusto Villanueva
2   Division of Liver Diseases, Liver Cancer Program, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
3   Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
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Abstract

Liver cancer incidence rate continues to increase and currently ranks third in the total number of annual deaths, behind only lung and colorectal cancer. Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are diagnosed at advanced stages, and they live for less than 2 years after diagnosis on average. This contrasts with those diagnosed at an early stage, who can be cured with surgery. However, even after curative resection, there remains a risk of up to 70% of postoperative HCC recurrence. There have been major changes in the management of HCC in the past 5 years, particularly for patients at advanced stages. Despite this multitude of new therapies, there is a lack of clear biomarkers to guide providers on the best approach to sequence therapies, which would maximize efficacy while minimizing toxicity. There are several areas in clinical management of HCC that are particularly challenging, and would benefit from development and implementation of new biomarkers to improve patient overall survival. Here, we review the major advances in liquid biopsy biomarkers for early detection of HCC, minimum residual disease, and predicting response to treatment.

Keywords

hepatocellular carcinoma - liquid biopsy - early detection - minimum residual disease


Publication History

Article published online:
23 June 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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