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Review
. 2024 Apr 15;14(4):420.
doi: 10.3390/jpm14040420.

Clinical Application of Different Liquid Biopsy Components in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Jing Xu  1 , Yuanyuan Zhao  1 , Zhishui Chen  1 , Lai Wei  1
Affiliations
Review

Clinical Application of Different Liquid Biopsy Components in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Jing Xu et al. J Pers Med. .

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer, usually occurring in the background of chronic liver disease. HCC lethality rate is in the third highest place in the world. Patients with HCC have concealed early symptoms and possess a high-level of heterogeneity. Once diagnosed, most of the tumors are in advanced stages and have a poor prognosis. The sensitivity and specificity of existing detection modalities and protocols are suboptimal. HCC calls for more sophisticated and individualized therapeutic regimens. Liquid biopsy is non-invasive, repeatable, unaffected by location, and can be monitored dynamically. It has emerged as a useable aid in achieving precision malignant tumor treatment. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating nucleic acids, exosomes and tumor-educated platelets are the commonest components of a liquid biopsy. It possesses the theoretical ability to conquer the high heterogeneity and the difficulty of early detection for HCC patients. In this review, we summarize the common enrichment techniques and the clinical applications in HCC for different liquid biopsy components. Tumor recurrence after HCC-related liver transplantation is more insidious and difficult to treat. The clinical use of liquid biopsy in HCC-related liver transplantation is also summarized in this review.

Keywords: circulating tumor DNA; circulating tumor cells; exosomes; hepatocellular carcinoma; liquid biopsy; liver transplantation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Liquid biopsies of non-blood origin in different malignancies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Historical time-line of the development of liquid biopsy components.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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