Evaluation of Osteopontin (OPN) plasma levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Background and Aims: Osteopontin (OPN) plasma levels have been suggested as a novel biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Kim et al., Am J Gastroenterol 2006; 101:2051–9). In the present study, the diagnostic accuracy of OPN was prospectively evaluated in a cohort of HCC patients with various tumor stages and cirrhotic controls and compared with that of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA). Methods: Consecutive treatment-naïve patients with HCC enrolled between 2007 and 2009 (n=52) and age- and sex-matched cirrhotic controls (n=25) were i…