SPECIFIC BIOMARKER SET FOR NON-INVASIVE DIAGNOSIS OF LIVER CANCER

摘要

Cells within liver tumour mass comprise a unique set of proteins/tumour antigens when compared to the normal liver tissues epithelial cells juxtaposed to the tumour. The presence of tumour antigens couples the production of auto-antibodies against these tumour antigens. The present invention relates to the identification and elucidation of a protein set that can act as a novel marker set for liver cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Specifically, it relates to a kit that enables diagnostic and prognostic measurement of auto-antibodies in serum of liver cancer patients. The present invention provides a non-invasive, specific, sensitive, and cost effective detection and quantification method by evaluating a set of validated liver cancer proteins/tumour antigens, which includes Bmi-1, VCC1, SUMO-4, RhoA, TXN, ET-1, UBE2C, HDGF2, FGF21, LECT2, SOD1, STMN4, Midkine, IL-17A or IL26, to complement the conventional diagnostic methods.