the profiles of expression of micro rna in peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis and their uses

摘要

A method for diagnosing or prognosticating hepatocellular carcinoma, also in the early stages, or for assessing the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, or for monitoring the effectiveness of an anti-tumour therapy against hepatocellular carcinoma by measuring the expression level of at least one miRNA gene product in a peripheral blood sample or in a biological fluid sample. Said method comprises measuring, in an isolated sample of peripheral blood or biological fluid, the expression level of at least one miRNA gene product, and comparing said measured expression level with a reference level. Such method can also be used to diagnose or assess the risk of developing liver cirrhosis in patients affected by chronic hepatitis, or to prognosticate the evolution of cirrhosis in patients affected by cirrhosis, or to monitor the effectiveness of a pharmacological therapy against liver cirrhosis.