ArticleBMC cancer2026
Relative telomer length as a potential biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comparative study of HCV patients treated with direct antiviral agent.
Article in BMC cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a significant complication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study investigates the potential of relative telomere length as a predictive biomarker in HCC patients, comparing non-DAA treatment groups with post-direct-acting antiviral (DAA).
methodsTelomere length was measured using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) in tumor and adjacent non-tumorous tissues from 41 HCC patients, divided into de novo (n = 16) and post-DAA (n = 25) groups.
resultsThe mean telomere length was significantly higher in tumor than non-tumorous tissues (3.39 ± 4.05 compared to 1.01 ± 0.04; p = 0.001). Mean telomere length varied significantly between groups, with non-DAA group showing higher tumor telomere length (5.15 ± 4.88) compared to post-DAA patients (2.26 ± 3.01). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed fair discriminatory ability in the non-DAA group (AUC 0.706, 95% CI: 0.524–0.888, p = 0.047). A significant correlation between tumor telomere length and carcinoembryonic antigen was observed in the post-DAA group. Non-DAA group showed more aggressive tumor grades, while post-DAA patients had better liver function. No significant association was found between relative telomere length and HCC risk.
conclusionSignificant telomere length alterations and clinicopathological differences highlight molecular heterogeneity in HCV-related HCC, particularly post-DAA. While Relative telomere length (RTL) did not predict HCC risk, its correlations with tumor markers suggest potential as a prognostic biomarker, warranting further research in larger cohorts.
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