Expression profiling of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the world. The molecular mechanism of HCC onset involves a complex interplay of both genetic and epigenetic factors. Hepatic carcinogenesis is characterized by an increase in allelic losses, chromosomal aberrations, gene mutations, epigenetic alterations, changes of gene expression and alterations in molecular cellular pathways. The integration of genetic, epigenetic, genomic, and proteomic data provides insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying hepatocarcinogenesis and is revealing promising clinical approaches. Resulting findings offer the possibility for the identification of relevant biomarkers, useful for the detection, molecular diagnosis, prediction of recurrence and prognosis of HCC as well as for the improved identification of novel therapeutic targets. This will be of utmost importance in the near future as more and more new targeted drugs will become available.