Novel Score Based on miRNA-106 b.5p Expression Signature and Routine Biomarkers for Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma among High-Risk Hepatitis C Virus Patients

Farag, Nema; Saleh, Hani; El-mezayen, Hatem A.; El-Kassas, Mohamed; El-sharkawy, Aml; Mounir, Michael

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.5.1913

Novel Score Based on miRNA-106 b.5p Expression Signature and Routine Biomarkers for Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma among High-Risk Hepatitis C Virus Patients

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Cancer Biology Research Unit, Capital University, Cairo, Egypt.

² Chemistry Department, Capital University, Cairo, Egypt.

³ Endemic Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Capital University, Cairo, Egypt.

⁴ Damietta Cancer Institute, Damietta, Egypt.

10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.5.1913

Abstract

Background and Aim: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, particularly among patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The limited sensitivity of current diagnostic tools, including imaging and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), underscores the need for novel biomarkers to enable early detection. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of circulating miRNA-106 b.5p and to develop an integrated predictive model combining this marker with routine biochemical parameters for early HCC detection in HCV-infected patients. Methods: A total of 42 HCC patients, 83 liver cirrhosis (LC) patients, and 20 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum miRNA-106 b.5p levels were quantified using qRT-PCR, and biochemical markers, including AFP, albumin, platelets, ALT, and bilirubin, were measured. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and multivariate discriminant analyses were performed to evaluate diagnostic performance and to construct a combined predictive score. Results: Serum miRNA-106 b.5p expression was significantly higher in HCC patients compared with LC patients and controls (p < 0.001), showing a progressive increase along the disease spectrum. ROC analysis revealed miRNA-106 b.5p (AUC = 0.679) outperformed AFP (AUC = 0.731) in discriminating HCC from cirrhosis. The newly developed miRNA-106 b.5p HCC score, integrating miRNA-106 b.5p, AFP, albumin, platelet count, total bilirubin, and ALT, achieved 94% sensitivity and 91% specificity (AUC = 0.744) at a cut-off value of 0.42. The model demonstrated superior performance in detecting early-stage and low-grade tumors compared with AFP alone. Conclusion: Integration of miRNA-106 b.5p with routine biochemical markers markedly enhances non-invasive diagnosis of HCV-related HCC. The proposed miRNA-106 b.5p HCC score represents a cost-effective, accurate, and clinically applicable tool for early tumor detection and improved management of high-risk patients.

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