Vol. 7, Issue 3, Part A (2024)

Background: The Vimentin protein (VIM) is highly prevalent among the proteins belonging to the type III IF protein family, which is present in mesenchymal cells. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of vimentin concentration in serum and methylation of vimentin gene in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: This current work had been performed on 60 subjects which assigned into two groups [Group I: involved 40 cirrhotic individuals with HCC, classified into two equal subgroups as follows (Group I A: with metastatic HCC and Group I B: 20 HCC patients without metastasis), Group (II): involved 40 cirrhotic individuals and without HCC] and 20 healthy subjects as control.

Results: A significant positive association existed between serum vimentin and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) in the two groups IA and IB (p<0.05). Serum vimentin demonstrated significant positive correlations with total serum bilirubin in Group IA and with white blood cell count in Group IB. Vimentin has a greater sensitivity (88%) and specificity (85%) than AFP. Serum vimentin had been greater in Group IA contrasted to Group IB, and in Group IB compared to Group II. The least serum level was in Group III (P=0.001). The methylation status of vimentin gene in HCC individuals had been significantly decreased than in individuals with cirrhosis and in Group IA than in Group IB.

Conclusions: Vimentin can serve as an additional biomarker for identifying HCC and has a crucial function in the progress and development of HCC. The measurement of serum vimentin level is a highly accurate and precise biomarker for diagnosing HCC and detection of HCC metastasis than the traditional marker, AFP.