Serum laminin γ2 monomer as a predictive biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

This retrospective study evaluated the use of laminin γ2 monomer (LG2m) as a predictive biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Serum LG2m levels were measured in two cohorts of patients: cohort 1 comprised 56 patients with chronic liver disease for assessing LG2m stability, whereas cohort 2 included 89 patients with chronic HBV infection who did not have HCC for evaluating the usefulness of LG2m measurement in HCC prediction. LG2m was highly stable in cryopreserved serum, and an increased LG2m level was significantly associated with a higher risk of HCC in chronically HBV-infected patients (P = 0.012). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that high LG2m was an independent significant risk factor for HCC (hazard ratio, 7.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-39.2; P = 0.023). These findings suggest that LG2m may serve as a useful biomarker for the prediction of future HCC in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Fig. 1

Approximation of LG2m in the same serum sample measured at two different times. Passing-Bablok regression fit comparing LG2m levels measured in 2018 and 2023 for cohort 1. The black line represents the line of identity (y = x).

Fig. 2

Cumulative HCC incidence in cohort 2. A Serum LG2m values for cohort 2. The cutoff value of 30 pg/mL is indicated by the dotted line. The median LG2m value is indicated by the black line. B Kaplan–Meier curve of HCC incidence in all enrolled patients. C Kaplan–Meier curves of cumulative HCC incidence in serum LG2m-high (red) and LG2m-low (black) HBV-infected patients. D Kaplan–Meier curves of cumulative HCC incidence in serum LG2m-high (red) and LG2m-low (black) HBV-infected patients without previous history of HCC. Number of patients at risk is shown at the bottom.