Case Report: Serum AKR1B10 as a complementary marker for the detection of AFP-negative hepatocellular carcinoma - a report of two cases.

Ye Gao, Lihua Xie, Yuting Ou, Xi Zeng, Deliang Cao, Jianping Yin

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Article in Frontiers in medicine, 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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5 · Who and what money

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6 authors.

Ye GaoHunan Engineering Research Center for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.

Lihua XieHunan Engineering Research Center for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.

Yuting OuHunan Engineering Research Center for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.

Xi ZengHunan Engineering Research Center for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.

Deliang CaoHunan Engineering Research Center for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.

Jianping YinCenter for Health Management, Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with chronic hepatitis B and C viral infections being major risk factors. To date, the lack of effective methods for monitoring the progression from viral infection to cancer remains a clinical issue. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a serum marker used for the detection of HCC; however, AFP levels remain negative in 30-40% of HCC cases and 60-70% of early-stage HCC cases. Aldo-keto reductase 1B10 (AKR1B10) has been reported as a serum marker for HCC. In this study, we report two cases of hepatitis B-related HCC that were persistently AFP-negative but showed a marked increase in serum AKR1B10 levels. These cases illustrate the complementary role of serum AKR1B10 in the diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC, serving as a hypothesis-generating approach. A prospective large-scale study is warranted to define the clinical value of AKR1B10 in AFP-negative HCC.

Indexed as

AFPAKR1B10hepatocellular carcinomamisdiagnosisserum markers

Identifiers

PMID41907234

DOI10.3389/fmed.2026.1756950

PMCPMC13021674

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