Basic Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2025; 31(15): 104996
Published online Apr 21, 2025. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i15.104996
Table 1 Demographic profiles and clinical features of the participants in the study, mean ± SD/n (%)
CharacteristicHC (n = 19)HCC
HCC12 (n = 18)
HCC34 (n = 20)
Gender
Female633
Male13 (68.42)15 (83.33)17 (85.00)
Age (years)51.42 ± 7.2765.83 ± 8.49b,157.60 ± 8.32a,b,2
BMI (kg/m2)24.73 ± 2.7322.40 ± 3.70a,122.49 ± 3.36a,b,2
Stage
I7
II11
III11
IV9
Complicated with HBV infection12 (66.67)18 (90)
Complicated with cirrhosis18 (100)19 (95)
ALT (IU/L)31.34 ± 13.2824.68 ± 13.7043.69 ± 34.80a,2
AST (IU/L)20.07 ± 7.0947.84 ± 30.10b,173.54 ± 48.00b,1
ALB (g/L)47.39 ± 4.2434.41 ± 5.49b,131.37 ± 3.97b,1
ALP (IU/L)79.29 ± 27.75142.92 ± 183.94177.34 ± 125.17b,1
GGT (mmol/L)17.41 ± 8.24111.30 ± 111.34b,185.48 ± 59.86b,1
TBIL (mmol/L)12.06 ± 4.8630.33 ± 18.98b,150.29 ± 52.58b,1
AFP (ng/mL)1.21 ± 1.23177.50 ± 370.07b,1553.16 ± 548.05b,1,2
aP < 0.05.
bP < 0.01.
1P calculated hepatocellular carcinoma vs healthy control.
2P calculated comprising patients with stage III and IV hepatocellular carcinoma vs comprising patients with stage I and II hepatocellular carcinoma.
HC: Healthy control; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; HCC12: Comprising patients with stage I and II hepatocellular carcinoma; HCC34: Comprising patients with stage III and IV hepatocellular carcinoma; BMI: Body mass index; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALB: Albumin; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; GGT: γ-glutamyl transferase; TBIL: Total bilirubin; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein.
Table 2 Receiver operating characteristic analysis of serum indicators
CharacteristicHC vs HCC12
HC vs HCC34
AUC
P value
AUC
P value
BMI0.70470.03350.70000.0328
ALT0.65500.10740.56840.4651
AST0.8816< 0.00010.9842< 0.0001
ALB0.9737< 0.00011< 0.0001
ALP0.61700.22420.81320.0008
GGT0.9064< 0.00010.9289< 0.0001
TBIL0.85530.00020.9263< 0.0001
AFP0.9474< 0.00010.9763< 0.0001
HC: Healthy control; HCC12: Comprising patients with stage I and II hepatocellular carcinoma; HCC34: Comprising patients with stage III and IV hepatocellular carcinoma; BMI: Body mass index; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALB: Albumin; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; GGT: γ-glutamyl transferase; TBIL: Total bilirubin; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein.
Table 3 Numbers of differentially accumulated metabolites
Group
Total
Differential metabolites
Up
Down
HC vs HCC343351386209177
HC vs HCC123351415118297
HC: Healthy control; HCC12: Comprising patients with stage I and II hepatocellular carcinoma; HCC34: Comprising patients with stage III and IV hepatocellular carcinoma.
Table 4 Correlations between differential metabolites and serum indicators
Serum indicatorHC vs HCC12
HC vs HCC34
Metabolite
Coefficient
P value
Metabolite
Coefficient
P value
AST25-Acetyl-6,7-didehydrofevicordin F 3-glucoside6.92E-015.27E-03
Coumatetralyl6.42E-014.87E-02
ALB25-Acetyl-6,7-didehydrofevicordin F 3-glucoside-6.99E-013.68E-03
Cholylglutamic acid6.82E-018.41E-03
Propamocarb6.62E-012.07E-02
3b-Hydroxy-6b-angeloyloxy-7(11)-eremophilen-12,8b-olide6.55E-012.81E-02
5-Ribosylparomamine-6.50E-013.46E-02
GGT4-Keto-2-undecylpyrroline-7.01E-017.23E-03Flurandrenolide6.86E-016.99E-03
Alanine amine6.79E-019.67E-03
Trans-Oct-2-enoyl-CoA6.59E-012.34E-02
1’-Hydroxyversicolorone6.57E-012.62E-02
TBIL(1S)-1-hydroxy-23,24-didehydro-25,26,27-trinorcalciol-4.29E-016.47E-062-(Ethylamino)ethanol6.83E-018.12E-03
Dihydrojasmonic acid-3.17E-011.15E-02Vitamin A-6.70E-011.49E-02
Vamorolone5.05E-011.33E-029-cis-Retinoic acid-6.69E-011.52E-02
3-NOR-3-OXOPANASINSAN-6-OL-3.54E-012.85E-023,4-Dimethyl-5-pentyl-2-furanpropanoic acid-6.57E-012.60E-02
(6R,7S)-6,7-Epoxy-1,3-tetradecadiyne-4.55E-013.34E-02
1,8-Heptadecadiene-4,6-diyne-3,10-diol-3.73E-013.39E-02
9(S)-HOTrE-2.56E-013.56E-02
AFP(1S)-1-hydroxy-23,24-didehydro-25,26,27-trinorcalciol-7.02E-016.95E-03
Dihydrojasmonic acid-6.97E-018.88E-03
Vamorolone6.95E-019.67E-03
3-NOR-3-OXOPANASINSAN-6-OL-6.85E-011.52E-02
(6R,7S)-6,7-Epoxy-1,3-tetradecadiyne-6.66E-013.51E-02
1,8-Heptadecadiene-4,6-diyne-3,10-diol-6.60E-014.35E-02
HC: Healthy control; HCC12: Comprising patients with stage I and II hepatocellular carcinoma; HCC34: Comprising patients with stage III and IV hepatocellular carcinoma; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALB: Albumin; GGT: γ-glutamyl transferase; TBIL: Total bilirubin; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein.