Prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma development by plasma ADAMTS13 in chronic hepatitis B and C.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Chronic liver injury evokes a wound healing response, promoting fibrosis and finally hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in which hepatic stellate cells play an important role. Although a blood marker of hepatic stellate cells is not known, those cells importantly contribute to the regulation of plasma a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type-1 motifs 13 (ADAMTS13) activity, a defect of which causes thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

METHODS:

Plasma ADAMTS13 was evaluated in chronic hepatitis B or C patients with or without HCC.

RESULTS:

Plasma ADAMTS13 activity significantly correlated with serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, liver stiffness value, and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index, irrespective of the presence of HCC, suggesting that it may reflect hepatocellular damage and subsequent wound healing and fibrosis as a result of hepatic stellate cell action. During the three-year follow-up period for patients without HCC, it developed in 10 among 81 patients. Plasma ADAMTS13 activity was significantly higher in patients with HCC development than in those without and was a significant risk for HCC development by univariate and multivariate analyses. Furthermore, during the one-year follow-up period for patients with HCC treated with radiofrequency ablation, HCC recurred in 55 among 107 patients. Plasma ADAMTS13 activity or antigen level was significantly higher in patients with HCC recurrence than in those without and was retained as a significant risk for HCC recurrence by multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Higher plasma ADAMTS13 activity and antigen level was a risk of HCC development in chronic liver disease.

IMPACT:

Plasma ADAMTS13 as a potential marker of hepatic stellate cells may be useful in the prediction of hepatocarcinogenesis.

• Authors: Hitoshi Ikeda, Ryosuke Tateishi, Kenichiro Enooku, Haruhiko Yoshida, Hayato Nakagawa, Ryota Masuzaki, Yuji Kondo, Tadashi Goto, Shuichiro Shiina, Yukio Kume, Tomoaki Tomiya, Yukiko Inoue, Takako Nishikawa, Natsuko Ohtomo, Yasushi Tanoue, Tomoko Ono, Kazuhiko Koike, Yutaka Yatomi
• Journal: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev) Vol. 20 Issue 10 Pg. 2204-11 (Oct 2011) ISSN: 1538-7755 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21876190 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: ©2011 AACR

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Blood Proteins
• Aspartate Aminotransferases
• Alanine Transaminase
• ADAM Proteins
• ADAMTS13 Protein
• ADAMTS13 protein, human

Topics

• ADAM Proteins (blood)
• ADAMTS13 Protein
• Aged
• Alanine Transaminase (metabolism)
• Aspartate Aminotransferases (metabolism)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood)
• Blood Proteins (metabolism)
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (etiology, metabolism, pathology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hepacivirus (isolation & purification)
• Hepatic Stellate Cells (metabolism)
• Hepatitis B virus (isolation & purification)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (complications, virology)
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (complications, virology)
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (etiology, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (diagnosis, metabolism, pathology)
• Prognosis