ArticleHepatology communications2024
MCAM is a prognostic biomarker in patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC.
Article in Hepatology communications, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Hepatocyte CD146 and soluble CD146 promote hepatic stellate cell activation via the integrin αvβ1-p38 MAPK signaling axis to drive liver fibrosis.Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS · 2026Article
- Biological properties of soluble CD146 and its role and mechanisms in disease progression.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Shikonin in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Bridging Metabolic Disruption and Immunomodulation.Journal of hepatocellular carcinoma · 2026Review
- 4EBP1 phosphorylation mediates TGF-β1-induced hepatic fibrosis and upregulates HIF-1α expression.iScience · 2025Article
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19 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundDespite the rising prevalence of liver cirrhosis and HCC worldwide, reliable prognostic blood biomarkers are lacking. Melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) is a cell adhesion protein, and its cleavage by metalloproteinases, known to be enriched in fibrotic and malignant diseases, results in the release of a soluble form into the blood. The aim of this study was to characterize MCAM expression in patients with chronic liver disease and to evaluate soluble MCAM (sMCAM) as a prognostic blood biomarker in patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC.
methodsExpression of MCAM in liver tissue was assessed using transcriptomic data sets as well as by immunohistochemical analyses in patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC. Moreover, sMCAM blood levels were determined in plasma samples from healthy controls (n = 8), patients with chronic liver disease (n = 66), liver cirrhosis (n = 236), and HCC (n = 72).
resultsSingle-cell RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry indicated MCAM to be highly expressed by liver endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Expression was upregulated in liver tissue of patients with liver fibrosis and especially HCC independent of the underlying etiology (p < 0.05, respectively). Blood levels of sMCAM increased with fibrosis stage and peaked in patients with concomitant HCC, showing a comparable diagnostic performance as the fibrosis markers hyaluronic acid (HA) and TIMP1 for diagnosis of liver cirrhosis (AUROCsMCAM = 0.84, AUROCHA = 0.89, AUROCTIMP1 = 0.87) and as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for diagnosis of HCC (AUROCsMCAM = 0.72, AUROCAFP = 0.72). Finally, high sMCAM levels predicted worse survival in HCC (p < 0.001).
conclusionsCollectively, our study suggests sMCAM as a blood biomarker of a liver microenvironment that drives the progression of liver disease in patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC.
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