DNA Cell Cycle Analysis with Propidium Iodide (PI) in Liver Cancer Patients

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) ranks as the fifth most common cancer and, with over 600,000 deaths per annum, it constitutes a major global health problem. The main aetiologies of chronic liver injury are chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, alcohol abuse and, as a result of metabolic syndrome reaching epidemic proportions, an increasing prevalence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Biomarkers are being developed as alternatives to liver biopsy for predicting liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The aim of this study was to investigate DNA Cell cycle in HCC, Fibrosis patients and compare with healthy control group. They were classified into three different groups 51 individuals diagnosed Fibrosis patients, 30 Hepatocellular Carcinoma patients and 40 healthy Control individuals with no liver diseases. Tumor Markers including CEA and AFP were estimated using ELISA method, DNA cell cycle was assessed using Flow Cytometry. Results showing sub G1 was increased significantly in both HCC and Fibrosis patients with values 9.55 ± 4.72 and 17.7 ± 5.9; respectively comparing with Healthy control group 5.7 ± 3.36 (p<0.005). On the other hand, G0/G1 was decreased significantly in both HCC and Fibrosis patients with values 62.2 ± 10.02 and 53.4 ± 11.1, respectively while in Healthy control. In addition, AFP and CEA were increased in both HCC and Fibrosis patients comparing with Control. Conclusion based on this study DNA cell cycle could help in assessment of Liver damage especially HCC.