Endocan a valuable biomarker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
2nd International Conference on Hepatology
May 09-11, 2016 Chicago, USA

David H Van Thiel

Rush University Medical Center, USA

Keynote: J Liver

Abstract:

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs at the rate of more than 500,000 cases and is the 6th most common cause of cancer worldwide. It is also the 3rd leading cause of cancer related death. Currently, increasing number of cases of hepatocellular carcinoma are being referred for liver transplantation as a result of changes in the MELD score points awarded to such individuals. A host of laboratory and imaging studies are utilized currently to detect in the resected hepatic tissue, tumor size within the resected specimen, and the presence of satellite nodules as well as the presence of additional foci of tumor and an alpha-fetoprotein level greater than 750 post intervention have been utilized to address this latter issue. The major problem with these analysis is that they can only be addressed after the intervention has ocurred. What is needed is a biomarker that can be utilized prior to either a non surgical or surgical intervention that identifies cases with a high likelihood of cure or alternatively a high likelihood of having a long-term survival that justifies the intervention. Endocan is a soluble proteoglycans of 50 kD that is over expressed by endothelial cells in several different carcinomas and is associated with a change in endothelial status from that of a dormant cell to one associated with fastgrowing tumor and enhanced tumor progression. As such, endocan may be the useful marker for guiding clinicians at selecting the best therapy (radiofrequecy ablation, radioactive beads, chemoembolization, resection or transplantation) for individuals with HCC. Moreover, it would appear to be an important target for future immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting endocan activity, thereby inhibiting tumor growth and progression (metastases).

Biography :

David H Van Thiel obtained his MD from the University of California at Los Angeles and completed Internal Medicine residencies at Cornell University Hospitals and Boston University. He completed a Gastrointestinal/Hepatology fellowship at Boston University and the University of Pittsburgh. At the latter institution, he progressed from an Instructor of Medicine to Professor of Medicine and Director of the Gastroenterology Hepatology Program and served as the Medical Director of Liver transplantation. He has published more than 100 peer reviewed papers in a variety of journals and is on the editorial board of several journals as well as serves as a reviewer.

Email: dvanthiel@dr.com