HISTAMINE IS A HELPFUL NOVEL SEROLOGICAL BIOMARKER FOR EXPERIMENTAL HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Abstract

Aim of the study: Like other cancers, HCC progression is highly affected by angiogenesis and apoptosis. The present study aims to assess the potential role of the endogenous regulators of angiogenesis and apoptosis like neurotransmitters, as possible hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biomarkers. Materials and methods: Five groups of rats were used in this study: a control healthy group(I) and another four intoxicated groups used for induction of HCC with a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (DENA 200 mg/kg, single I.P. dose), (II, III, IV, and V). Groups II, III, IV, and V were sacrificed following 8,16,24, and 32 weeks of the DENA injection respectively. Level of histamine serum samples was estimated using high performance liquid chromatography technique coupled with Diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). In addition, AFP was measured using ELISA technique. Results: Development of HCC was confirmed by histopathological studies. The results exhibited prominent increase in serum histamine level during early and moderate stages of HCC development (group II, III, and IV) in comparison to the control, then histamine serum level declined to the normal level during last stage of HCC development (group V). Conclusion: Histamine can be used in combination of AFP as a biomarker for detection of early stages of HCC where AFP alone has a limited detection value.