Published online May 15, 2021. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i5.351
Peer-review started: December 21, 2020
First decision: January 17, 2021
Revised: January 18, 2021
Accepted: April 13, 2021
Article in press: April 13, 2021
Published online: May 15, 2021
Novel non-/minimally-invasive and effective approaches are urgently needed to supplement and improve current strategies for diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Overwhelming evidence from published studies on HCC has documented that multiple molecular biomarkers detected in body fluids and feces can be utilized in early-diagnosis, predicting responses to specific therapies, evaluating prognosis before or after therapy, as well as serving as novel therapeutic targets. Detection and analysis of proteins, metabolites, circulating nucleic acids, circulating tumor cells, and extracellular vesicles in body fluids (e.g., blood and urine) and gut microbiota (e.g., in feces) have excellent capabilities to improve different aspects of management of HCC. Numerous studies have been devoted in identifying more promising candidate biomarkers and therapeutic targets for diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring responses of HCC to conventional therapies, most of which may improve diagnosis and management of HCC in the future. This review aimed to summarize recent advances in utilizing these biomarkers in HCC and discuss their clinical significance.
Core Tip: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy of the liver, ranking as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Recent developments of multiple novel biomarkers from body fluids and feces facilitate diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma. This review aimed to focus on these blood-, urine-, and feces-based biomarkers including proteins, metabolites, circulating nucleic acids, circulating tumor cells, extracellular vesicles, and gut microbiota on clinical application of these biomarkers.