Scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina have discovered the best biomarker for detecting dangerous liver cancer. The discovery will speed up the diagnosis of the disease and improve the patient's prognosis for survival. The results of the work were published in the journal Cancer Research Communications.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (HCC) is a malignant neoplasm that is the second most common subtype of liver cancer. This type of tumor is considered extremely aggressive, and if detected late, the five-year survival rate statistically does not exceed eight percent. At the same time, timely diagnosis can help cure 50 percent of patients.

Related materials:Nothing to breathe.How oxygen affects the aggressiveness of cancerous tumorsJuly 23, 2021Invisible killersScientists have found the cause of cancer. Is it possible to protect yourself from it?November 22, 2019

However, until now, it was considered difficult to identify this type of cancer, since the symptoms resemble other liver diseases. In addition, the existing CVH biomarkers are not specific for this particular disease. Now, experts have identified a unique molecule in tissue and blood samples from patients that only appears in CPH. These changes are characteristic of N-glycan, a type of sugar found in proteins. The new biomarker will help diagnose liver cancer only by blood tests, without the use of invasive biopsy.

So far, it has not been possible to explain the exact cause of the formation of N-glycan mutations. New studies are planned to continue to study these sugars, as well as to determine which proteins are associated with changes in N-glycans and why.