Ezrin Polarization as a Diagnostic Marker for Circulating Tumor Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with no precise method for early detection. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) expressing the dynamic polarity of the cytoskeletal membrane protein, ezrin, have been proposed to...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Cells |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/1/6 |
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| Summary: | Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with no precise method for early detection. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) expressing the dynamic polarity of the cytoskeletal membrane protein, ezrin, have been proposed to play a crucial role in tumor progression and metastasis. This study investigated the diagnostic and prognostic potential of polarized circulating tumor cells (p-CTCs) in HCC patients. CTCs were isolated from the peripheral blood of 20 HCC patients and 18 patients with nonmalignant liver disease (NMLD) via an OncoQuick<sup>®</sup> kit and immunostained with Ezrin-Alexa Fluor 488<sup>®</sup>, CD146-PE, and CD45-APC. A fluorescence microscopy was then performed for analysis. The HCC group exhibited significantly higher levels of p-CTCs, with median values of 0.56 p-CTCs/mL, compared to 0.02 p-CTCs/mL (<i>p</i> = 0.03) in the NMLD group. CTCs were detected in 95% of the HCC patients, with a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 89%. p-CTCs were present in 75% of the HCC patients, with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 94%. Higher p-CTC counts were associated with the significantly longer overall survival in HCC patients (<i>p</i> = 0.05). These findings suggest that p-CTCs could serve as valuable diagnostic and prognostic markers for HCC. The incorporation of p-CTCs into diagnostic strategies could enhance therapeutic decision-making and improve patient outcomes. |
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| ISSN: | 2073-4409 |