Early Liver Cancer Diagnosed With Molecular Test

A test has been developed that will help pathologists clearly distinguish early liver cancer cells from nearly identical normal liver cells by giving them a distinctive red-brown hue.

In diagnosing early liver cancer, physicians note that cirrhosis, a massive scarring of the liver resulting from chronic infection with hepatitis B and C viruses, further complicates the current diagnostic situation by essentially concealing the cancer cells.


Scientists at Georgia Regents University (Augusta, GA, USA) developed a probe that gives cancer cells the distinctive red-brown hue. They used their probe on biopsies of 10 healthy livers and 10 livers with early cancers. The probe detects and stains a micro ribonucleic acid (microRNA) called mir-21, which is found in liver cancer but not healthy liver cells. In every case of liver cancer, the biopsy took on the red-brown hue. The probe was not detected in normal cells. The studies were done retrospectively, so they already knew which patients ultimately were diagnosed with cancer. They are now using the test on 200 similar cases of liver cancer.

Unlike RNA, microRNA does not make proteins rather helps control proteins that are expressed by RNA. That means it is more stable and can survive harsh chemicals normally used to prepare the biopsy for microscopic evaluation. This includes using formaldehyde and replacing natural fluids with paraffin so the tissue can be easily cut and stained with different reagents to help pathologists try to pinpoint a patient's problem.

The scientists are collaborating with BioGenex laboratories (Fremont, CA, USA), a company with expertise in cell and tissue testing, who helped develop the probe that gives cancer cells the distinctive red-brown hue. The group also is exploring this approach in other hard-to-detect early cancers and they used it to identify microRNAs selectively expressed in melanoma. Under the microscope, the potentially deadly skin cancer cells look a lot like common mole cells.

Amyn M. Rojiani, Chairman of the Department of Pathology, at the Medical College of Georgia (Augusta, GA, USA) said, “The deadly liver cancer cells seek to recapitulate the appearance of normal liver cells. As pathologists, we often find ourselves wanting to know more. Our test helps us differentiate between the two." The study was presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Pathology held in Chicago, September 18-21, 2013.

Related Links:
Georgia Regents University
BioGenex laboratories
Medical College of Georgia