5’-transfer RNA halve-lysine-CTT as a promising biomarker for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 3 5’-transfer RNA halve-lysine-CTT expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and clinicopathological correlations. A and B: 5’-transfer RNA halve (tiRNA)-lysine (Lys)-CTT expression in 50 paired hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent non-tumor tissues, assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Statistical significance determined by paired t-test and unpaired t-test; C: 5’-tiRNA-Lys-CTT expression in serum of 110 HCC patients and 110 healthy controls, assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction; D: Correlation analysis between 5’-tiRNA-Lys-CTT expression in paired tumor and serum samples (n = 50) using Pearson correlation; E: Correlation analysis between 5’-tiRNA-Lys-CTT expression in serum and alpha-fetoprotein concentration (n = 110) using Pearson correlation; F: 5’-tiRNA-Lys-CTT serum expression levels in HCC patients stratified by Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage, tumor size, alpha-fetoprotein concentration, and hepatitis B virus infection status. All the values are as mean ± SD. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01; ^cP < 0.001; ^dP < 0.0001. tiRNA: Transfer RNA halve; Lys: Lysine; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; BCLC: Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer; HBV: Hepatitis B virus.