Evaluation of the level of serum neuropilin-1 in patients with chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the tumor of hepatocytes and occurs mainly in patients with liver inflammation, liver fibrosis, and cirrhotic livers. Recent studies hypothesize that neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) can be a specific indicator for HCC as it shows high levels in cases of HCC only. Aims To study serum NRP-1 in chronic liver diseases and HCC. Patients and methods Our research included 80 Egyptian subjects who were divided into three groups; Group I(20 healthy controls), Group II(30 patients with HCC and hepatitis C) and Group III (30 patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C). Results Albumin, blood alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase enzymes, and urea showed a significant decrease in HCC and cirrhotic groups in comparison with controls. There was an increase in the mean values of NRP-1 in HCC and cirrhotic patient groups in comparison with controls, and there was also a significant increase in the HCC patient group in comparison with the cirrhotic patient group. In cirrhotic patients, there was a significant positive correlation between NRP-1 and each of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), AST, ALT, and prothrombin time. In patients with HCC, there was a significant positive correlation between NRP-1 and each of AFP, AST, and ALT. There was an increase in serum AFP in the HCC group in comparison with both control and cirrhotic patient groups and a significant increase in the cirrhotic patient group in comparison with the control group. Conclusion Serum NRP-1 levels in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C virus may guide us about progression to HCC. In these patients, if NRP-1 levels were found to be high, follow-up with radiological studies could be done.