New serum biomarkers for detection of HBV-induced liver cirrhosis using SELDI protein chip technology

AIM:To find new serum biomarkers for liver cirrhosis (LC)in chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV).METHODS:Surface enhanced laser desorption/ionizationtime-of-flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectrometry was usedto discover biomarkers for differentiating HBV induced LCfrom non-cirrhotic cohorts.A training population of 25 patientswith HBV-induced LC,20 patients with HCC,and 25 closelyage-matched healthy men,was studied.RESULTS:Two biomarkers with Mr7 772 and 3 933 weredetected in sera of non-cirrhotic cohorts,but not in patientswith HBV-induced LC.A sensitivity of 80% for all LC patients,a specificity of 81.8% for all non-cirrhotic cohorts and apositive predictive value of 75% for the study populationwere obtained.CONCLUSION:These two serum biomarkers for HBV-induced LC might be used for diagnosis and assessment ofdisease progression.