Lethal Liver Cancer can be Spotted Early, as Scientists Identify Diagnostic Biomarker

Hepatocellular carcinoma, or liver cancer, remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide due to a lack of biomarkers for early detection.

Liver cancer is life-threatening because it is generally diagnosed in the later stages. Now, scientists have identified a diagnostic biomarker of the disease and a potential way to reverse the damage done.

"Hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer, remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide due to a lack of biomarkers for early detection and rapid fatality shortly after diagnosis," said Ying Fu from the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Washington, DC.

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In new research, Fu and his team found that a damaged lesion on a DNA base (guanine) is correlated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in two mouse models.

"It has the potential to serve as a biomarker for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma," the team noted.

Furthermore, polyphenon E, a formulation of green tea extract containing antioxidant catechins (plant metabolites) showed the most potent effect to suppress the lesion.

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"More importantly, 86% of the mice on the polyphenon E diet appeared to have complete protection from tumor development," Fu claimed.

The study was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s (AACR) annual meeting in Philadelphia this week.

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