Serum Thioredoxin as a Diagnostic Marker in AFP-Negative Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Review | ||
| Zagazig University Medical Journal | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 13 October 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Review Articles | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/zumj.2025.425254.4200 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Amany Mohamed Ibrahim1; Khaled Mounir Attia* 2; Mahmoud Amer3; Abdullah Mohamad Abd el hameed4 | ||
| 1internal medicine departmen,faculty of medicine, zagazig university sharkia egypt | ||
| 2Internal Medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt | ||
| 3Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt | ||
| 4Clinical pathology. Faculty of medicine. Zagazig university. El sharia governorate.eygpt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a major global health burden and remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite advances in therapeutic strategies, the overall prognosis of HCC patients continues to be poor, largely due to late diagnosis. Early detection is therefore critical to improving survival outcomes. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has historically been the most widely used biomarker for surveillance; however, its sensitivity and specificity are limited, particularly in patients with AFP-negative hepatocellular carcinoma (ANHC), which accounts for a considerable proportion of cases. This diagnostic challenge highlights the urgent need for novel biomarkers for early detection. Thioredoxin (TRX), a pivotal regulator of oxidative stress and redox homeostasis, has recently attracted significant attention as a promising candidate. Accumulating evidence indicates that serum TRX levels are markedly elevated in HCC patients, including those with ANHC, and may correlate with tumor progression, aggressiveness, and poor prognosis. This review highlights current insights into TRX biology, compares its diagnostic performance with established biomarkers, and discusses its potential role in future multimarker diagnostic panels. Conclusion: Thioredoxin is an emerging biomarker with significant promise for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially AFP-negative cases. Current evidence supports its role as a sensitive marker that can complement AFP and imaging techniques. Future research should focus on conducting large-scale validation studies and integrating them into clinical practice. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Hepatocellular carcinoma; AFP-negative; Thioredoxin; Biomarkers; Diagnosis | ||
|
Statistics Article View: 2 |
||
