The Emerging Influences of Alpha-Fetoprotein in the Tumorigenesis and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, and its mortality rate is the third-highest, after lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Currently, systematic targeted therapies for HCC mainly include multiple kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy. However, these drugs carry a b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/20/5096 |
| _version_ | 1797515051248123904 |
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| author | Ye Xu Qinglong Guo Libin Wei |
| author_facet | Ye Xu Qinglong Guo Libin Wei |
| author_sort | Ye Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, and its mortality rate is the third-highest, after lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Currently, systematic targeted therapies for HCC mainly include multiple kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy. However, these drugs carry a black-box warning about the potential for inducing severe toxicity, and they do not significantly prolong the survival period of patients due to the highly heterogeneous characteristics of HCC etiology. In order to improve the prediction, effective treatment and prognosis of HCC, the tools and different biomarkers in clinical practices are recommended. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the earliest and the most widely used serum marker in the detection of HCC. Interestingly, serum AFP and cytoplasmic AFP show different, even opposite, roles in the cancer progression of HCC. This review focuses on biological characteristics, regulatory mechanisms for gene expression, emerging influences of AFP in HCC and its possible implications in HCC-targeted therapy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:40:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-14fb6a388a654754a70a4edde1fe068a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:40:09Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-14fb6a388a654754a70a4edde1fe068a2023-11-22T17:40:13ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942021-10-011320509610.3390/cancers13205096The Emerging Influences of Alpha-Fetoprotein in the Tumorigenesis and Progression of Hepatocellular CarcinomaYe Xu0Qinglong Guo1Libin Wei2State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, ChinaHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, and its mortality rate is the third-highest, after lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Currently, systematic targeted therapies for HCC mainly include multiple kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy. However, these drugs carry a black-box warning about the potential for inducing severe toxicity, and they do not significantly prolong the survival period of patients due to the highly heterogeneous characteristics of HCC etiology. In order to improve the prediction, effective treatment and prognosis of HCC, the tools and different biomarkers in clinical practices are recommended. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the earliest and the most widely used serum marker in the detection of HCC. Interestingly, serum AFP and cytoplasmic AFP show different, even opposite, roles in the cancer progression of HCC. This review focuses on biological characteristics, regulatory mechanisms for gene expression, emerging influences of AFP in HCC and its possible implications in HCC-targeted therapy.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/20/5096hepatocellular carcinomaalpha-fetoproteindifferent functions in serum and cytoplasm |
| spellingShingle | Ye Xu Qinglong Guo Libin Wei The Emerging Influences of Alpha-Fetoprotein in the Tumorigenesis and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cancers hepatocellular carcinoma alpha-fetoprotein different functions in serum and cytoplasm |
| title | The Emerging Influences of Alpha-Fetoprotein in the Tumorigenesis and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| title_full | The Emerging Influences of Alpha-Fetoprotein in the Tumorigenesis and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| title_fullStr | The Emerging Influences of Alpha-Fetoprotein in the Tumorigenesis and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Emerging Influences of Alpha-Fetoprotein in the Tumorigenesis and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| title_short | The Emerging Influences of Alpha-Fetoprotein in the Tumorigenesis and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| title_sort | emerging influences of alpha fetoprotein in the tumorigenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma |
| topic | hepatocellular carcinoma alpha-fetoprotein different functions in serum and cytoplasm |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/20/5096 |
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