Lysyl oxidase-like 2 as a predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus after sustained virological response.
Sci Rep
; 14(1): 10864, 2024 05 13.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38740815
ABSTRACT
Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) mediates the crosslinking of extracellular collagen, reflecting qualitative changes in liver fibrosis. This study aimed to validate the utility of serum LOXL2 levels as a predictive biomarker for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who achieved a sustained virological response (SVR). This retrospective study included 137 patients with chronic HCV infection without history of HCC development and who achieved SVR via direct-acting antiviral therapy. Median LOXL2 levels decreased significantly after SVR achievement (pre-Tx, 2.33 ng/mL; post-Tx, 1.31 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Post-Tx LOXL2 levels, fibrosis-4 index, platelet counts, Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive human Mac-2 binding protein levels, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were identified as independent predictive factors for post-SVR HCC development in the univariate analysis. The incidence of post-SVR HCC development was significantly higher in patients with post-Tx LOXL2 levels ≥ 2.08 ng/mL and AFP levels ≥ 5.0 ng/mL than in patients with elevated levels of either marker or with lower marker levels. Serum LOXL2 levels can serve as a predictive biomarker for HCC development after achieving SVR. The combination of serum LOXL2 and AFP levels provides robust risk stratification for HCC development after SVR, suggesting an enhanced surveillance strategy.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
/
Hepatitis C, Chronic
/
Sustained Virologic Response
/
Amino Acid Oxidoreductases
/
Liver Neoplasms
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Sci Rep
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Japón
Country of publication:
Reino Unido