Published online Jan 22, 2022. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v13.i1.1
Peer-review started: March 21, 2021
First decision: May 1, 2021
Revised: May 15, 2021
Accepted: December 22, 2021
Article in press: December 22, 2021
Published online: January 22, 2022
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second cause of cancer-related mortality. The diagnosis of HCC depends mainly on α-fetoprotein, which is limited in its diagnostic and screening capabilities. There is an urgent need for a biomarker that detects early HCC to give the patients a chance for curative treatment. New targets of therapy could enhance survival and create future alternative curative methods. In silico analysis provides both; discovery of biomarkers, and under
Core tip: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second cause of cancer-related mortality. The importance of having an early detecting biomarker is to allow for curative measures to be applicable, and prognostic biomarkers to detect survival, in dealing with the disease. In silico analyses allow us to discover new genetic and epigenetic biomarkers, along with establishing the coexpression patterns, which impact HCC survival. Also, it allows for understanding the molecular pathways for HCC pathogenesis, and the discovery of potential therapeutic options. In this article, I review the current discoveries and limitations that face researchers to reach their ultimate goal of establishing clinical practice guidelines. I give an overview of the future potential that could benefit integrated research on HCC and discuss my own research related to the topic.