Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Diagnosis and Management

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Imaging and Theranostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2025) | Viewed by 871

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Research Assistant Center, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
2. Department of Nursing, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung 406, Taiwan
Interests: cancer genomics; transcriptomics; personalized medicine; cancer onset and development; cancer biomarkers; diagnostic strategies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer, accounting for ~90% of cases, and is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. While it has traditionally been diagnosed in its late stages, improved surveillance in patients with cirrhosis and advances in imaging have enabled earlier detection and curative treatment options. Major risk factors include chronic infection with hepatitis B and C viruses, as well as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is increasingly common in the West and presents a distinct molecular pathogenesis. About 25% of HCCs carry potentially actionable mutations, though their clinical utility remains under investigation. Ultrasound is recommended for the surveillance and follow-up of nodules ≤1 cm, while contrast-enhanced CT or MRI is preferred for nodules >1 cm. Biopsies may be required for atypical lesions but are limited by sampling errors. Subcentimeter lesions should be monitored with repeat imaging and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing every 3–6 months. Accurate diagnosis, proper staging, and timely treatment are vital for improving outcomes. Ongoing research in cancer biomarkers, genomics, transcriptomics, and personalized medicine continues to advance our understanding of HCC and refine diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Po-Ming Chen
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hepatocellular carcinoma
  • chronic infection
  • non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
  • diagnostic and therapeutic strategies

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 2277 KB  
Article
The Role of Aurora Kinase A in HBV-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinomas: A Molecular and Immunohistochemical Study
by Mustafa Huz, Nese Karadag Soylu, Ahmet Koc, Zeynep Kucukakcali, Nefsun Danis and Onural Ozhan
Diagnostics 2026, 16(1), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16010160 - 4 Jan 2026
Viewed by 34
Abstract
Objectives: Although Aurora kinase A (AURKA) expression has been investigated in many cancer types, studies focusing on its role in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) are limited. In this study, we examined the activity of AURKA and its substrates (PLK1, P53, and [...] Read more.
Objectives: Although Aurora kinase A (AURKA) expression has been investigated in many cancer types, studies focusing on its role in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) are limited. In this study, we examined the activity of AURKA and its substrates (PLK1, P53, and BRCA1) in HBV-HCC and cryptogenic hepatocellular carcinoma (Cr-HCC) cases. Methods: The study groups consisted of HBV-HCC, Cr-HCC, and healthy liver tissue cases. AURKA copy number variation (CNV) was analyzed using molecular methods. AURKA expression was evaluated by molecular and immunohistochemical (IHC) methods. AURKA substrates P53Ser315, PLK1Thr210, and BRCA1 were also analyzed by IHC. Results: There was no increase in AURKA gene copy number among the groups (2−∆∆Ct < 2). AURKA level was significantly increased in both test groups (p < 0.001). At the protein level, AURKA was significantly higher in both cancer groups compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Phospho-P53Ser315 levels were significantly higher in both HBV-HCC and Cr-HCC groups compared to the control group (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Cr-HCC cases also showed significantly higher levels compared to HBV-HCC (p = 0.025). For phospho-PLK1Thr210, Cr-HCC cases showed statistically higher expression compared to both the control group and HBV-HCC cases (p = 0.001). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Diagnosis and Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1472 KB  
Article
A Comparative Study of Radiofrequency Ablation, Microwave Ablation, and Percutaneous Ethanol Injection in Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma—A Single-Center Experience
by Mohamed Abdel-Samiee, Reham Reda Elkazaz, Hazem Omar, Nada Mohsen Salama, Asmaa Ibrahim Gomaa, Mohamed Akl Rady and Imam Waked
Diagnostics 2025, 15(23), 3027; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15233027 - 27 Nov 2025
Viewed by 513
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks as the third most prevalent cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. This study sought to evaluate microwave ablation (MWA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI)—whether used separately or together (RFA+PEI, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks as the third most prevalent cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. This study sought to evaluate microwave ablation (MWA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI)—whether used separately or together (RFA+PEI, MWA+PEI)—for treating single HCC lesions ≤5 cm, focusing on outcomes, survival rates, complications, costs, and recurrence rates. Methods: This retrospective–prospective research study involved 250 patients with solitary HCC lesions measuring ≤5 cm, recruited from the National Liver Institute at Menoufia University. Patients were evenly divided into five groups, each containing (n = 50): RFA, MWA, PEI, combined RFA+PEI, and combined MWA+PEI. Indications and contraindications adhered to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) guidelines. Results: Three patients were administered antiviral therapy 1–2 years after ablation. Average intervention costs were 17,340 ± 700, 31,200 ± 900, 1140 ± 300, 17,500 ± 0.0, and 33,800 ± 0.0 EGP for groups 1 through 5, respectively. Short-term advancement rates were 12%, 8%, 18%, 4%, and 2%. After 36 months, all patients survived six months after ablation. Average survival durations were 2.44 ± 1.17, 2.59 ± 1.02, 2.69 ± 0.99, 2.83 ± 1.06,and 2.91 ± 1.04 years, respectively. Complications were mainly minor (pain, nausea, and low-grade fever); one patient experienced an abscess and biloma post-MWA, one experienced minimal pleural effusion, and two combined-therapy cases had abdominal wall hematoma. Conclusions: RFA, MWA, and PEI—whether used individually or together—are successful treatment choices for early-stage HCC. The combination of MWA and PEI demonstrated the most favorable results, minimal recurrence rates, and the longest duration of progression-free survival. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Diagnosis and Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop