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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 7, 2014; 20(5): 1268-1288
Published online Feb 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i5.1268
Published online Feb 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i5.1268
Novel hepatocellular carcinoma molecules with prognostic and therapeutic potentials
Bruna Scaggiante, Barbara Dapas, Gabriele Grassi, Department of Life Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, 34100 Trieste, Italy
Gabriele Pozzato, Fabrizio Zanconati, Maryam Kazemi, Department of Medical, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, 34100 Trieste, Italy
Rosella Farra, Mario Grassi, Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34100 Trieste, Italy
Author contributions: Scaggiante B, Kazemi M and Grassi G wrote the manuscript; Pozzato G, Dapas B, Farra R, Grassi M and Zanconati F gave suggestions about the topics to be mentioned, read and corrected the manuscript, organized the bibliography.
Supported by “Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio of Trieste”, “Fondazione Benefica Kathleen Foreman Casali of Trieste” and Italian Minister of Instruction, University and Research (MIUR), No. PRIN 2010-11 and No. 20109PLMH2
Correspondence to: Gabriele Grassi, MD, PhD, Department of Life Sciences, University Hospital of Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 447, 34100 Trieste, Italy. ggrassi@units.it
Telephone: +39-40-3996227 Fax: +39-40-3994593
Received: August 14, 2013
Revised: November 10, 2013
Accepted: January 2, 2014
Published online: February 7, 2014
Revised: November 10, 2013
Accepted: January 2, 2014
Published online: February 7, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death. The modest efficacy of the therapeutic approaches also depends on the fact that the diagnosis often occurs in the late stages of the disease. Thus, the identification of early markers of onset and progression could be of significant benefit. Here we mainly focus on the latest data pointing the attention towards: (1) biochemical cellular markers; (2) micro-interfering RNA; (3) epigenetic variations; and (4) tumor stroma. The integration of these different lines of investigations should represent promising strategies to identify effective HCC markers.