The Serum Laminin-γ2 Response Predicts the Treatment Efficacy of Transarterial Chemoembolization for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Serum laminin-γ2 monomer (Ln-γ2m) is a potentially useful novel biomarker for the surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We measured the serum Ln-γ2m levels before and after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as treatment for HCC and evaluated its diagnostic value in predicting HCC treatment efficacy.
Methods: HCC patients treated with TACE at the St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital were enrolled between January 2013 and February 2018 (n=28; 19 men and 9 women; mean age: 70 years). Treatment effects were evaluated by dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) a median 7 (range: 4–25) days after TACE using the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Serum Ln-γ2m levels were measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay before and 7 days after TACE.
Results: According to the CECT results, 5 patients had a complete response (CR), 11 a partial response (PR), 5 stable disease (SD), and 7 progressive disease (PD). In the effective therapeutic group (patients with CR or PR), serum Ln-γ2m levels were significantly decreased after TACE, by 60% with CR (3/5) and 36% with PR (4/11). Conversely, in PR cases in which therapy was ineffective, serum Ln-γ2m levels increased after TACE. In these cases, tumor progression was observed in CT images within 3 months. In the ineffective therapeutic group (patients with SD or PD), serum Ln-γ2m levels were significantly increased, by 100% with SD (5/5) and 86% with PD (6/7).
Conclusion: The serum Ln-γ2m response may predict the treatment efficacy of TACE for advanced HCC.