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Circulating adiponectin: a potential prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma

  • Published:
The Chinese-German Journal of Clinical Oncology

Abstract

Objective

We planned this study to investigate the relation between serum adiponectin level and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): risk, features and prognosis.

Methods

The study included 100 patients with HCC and 40 healthy control subjects. Adiponectin levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

Results

In the subset of patients with compensated cirrhosis, the mean serum adiponectin level was significantly lower in HCC cases compared to healthy controls (88.6 versus 115 ng/mL; P = 0.012). In addition, serum adiponectin levels correlated negatively with tumor size (P = 0.004) and were significantly lower in patients with vascular invasion and distant metastases (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02 respectively). Furthermore, the median overall survival was significantly higher in the high adiponectin group than the low adiponectin group (median 12.5 versus 9.5 months; log rank = 4.6, P = 0.03).

Conclusion

Decreased circulating adiponectin level may play a role in the development of HCC and is a potential poor prognostic marker. These data should be validated in further prospective studies. Also the mechanisms by which adiponectin affect the course of HCC need to be clarified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mansoura, Mansoura, Egypt

    Mohamed E. E. Shams

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mansoura, Mansoura, Egypt

    Mohammed M. H. Al-Gayyar & Mamdouh M. El-Shishtawy

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Mansoura, Mansoura, Egypt

    Enaase A. M. E. Barakat & Mohamed A. Ebrahim

Authors
  1. Mohamed E. E. Shams
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  2. Mohammed M. H. Al-Gayyar
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  3. Enaase A. M. E. Barakat
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  4. Mohamed A. Ebrahim
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  5. Mamdouh M. El-Shishtawy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed A. Ebrahim.

Additional information

Supported by a grant from the Project Funding Unit, University of Mansoura, Egypt.

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Shams, M.E.E., Al-Gayyar, M.M.H., Barakat, E.A.M.E. et al. Circulating adiponectin: a potential prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma. Chin. -Ger. J. Clin. Oncol. 10, 570–574 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10330-011-0859-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10330-011-0859-7

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