Affiliations: Georgetown University, Department of Oncology,
Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC, USA | Georgetown University, Department of Biochemistry and
Molecular & Cellular Biology, Washington, DC, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Radoslav Goldman, Department of Oncology,
Georgetown University Medical Center, 3970 Reservoir Rd NW, LCCC Room S183,
Washington, DC 20057, USA. Tel.: +1 202 687 9868; Fax: +1 202 687 1988; E-mail:
rg26@georgetown.edu
Abstract: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States
is increasing and the increase is projected to continue for several decades.
The overall survival of HCC patients is poor and treatments are not effective
in part because most of the diagnoses come at a late stage. The development of
new markers for detection of HCC would significantly improve patient prognosis.
This paper describes identification of candidate markers previously reported in
our serologic study of an Egyptian population by quantitative comparison of
matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass
spectra. To identify these marker candidates, we performed LC-MS/MS sequencing
that identified nine native peptides associated with HCC, including two
reported previously. Four truncations of N terminus of complement C3f and a
fibrinopeptide increased in control sera; two complement C4α peptides, a zyxin peptide, and a coagulation factor XIII peptide
increased in cancer patient sera. We have also identified increased biliverdin
diglucuronide in the sera of cancer patients. These peptides could potentially
serve as markers of HCC following additional validation studies; however,
association of similar peptides with other diseases and cancers dictates a very
cautious approach.
Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, mass spectrometry, serum, complement, biliverdin diglucuronide
