@Article{or.2025.070392,
AUTHOR = {Hyung Seok Kim, Ju A Son, Minji Kang, Soon Sun Kim, Geum Ok Baek, Moon Gyeong Yoon, Se Ha Jang, Dokyung Jung, Ji Eun Han, Jae Youn Cheong, Jung Woo Eun},
TITLE = {Serum Extracellular Vesicle-Associated GULP1 Is a Key Indicator of Hepatocellular Carcinoma},
JOURNAL = {Oncology Research},
VOLUME = {34},
YEAR = {2026},
NUMBER = {2},
PAGES = {--},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/or/v34n2/65577},
ISSN = {1555-3906},
ABSTRACT = { <b>Objectives:</b> Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant challenge due to the limited sensitivity of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). This study aimed to assess serum-derived extracellular vesicle-encapsulated GULP PTB domain-containing engulfment adaptor 1 (<i>EV-GULP1</i>) as a novel, noninvasive biomarker for HCC detection and prognosis, leveraging the potential of tumor-specific molecules carried by small extracellular vesicles (EVs). <b>Methods:</b> The study utilized both internal and external cohorts of HCC patients and controls. Small EVs were isolated from serum samples, then characterized and validated to confirm their identity. The expression levels of <i>EV-GULP1</i> were quantified using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). <b>Results:</b> <i>EV-GULP1</i> expression was found to be significantly higher in HCC patients, including those with early-stage disease, when compared to control groups. It demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy over AFP, achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.919, and was particularly effective in detecting AFP-negative cases. Furthermore, high <i>EV-GULP1</i> expression correlated with worse overall and disease-free survival outcomes. <b>Conclusion:</b> These findings highlight <i>EV-GULP1</i> as a highly promising noninvasive biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma. It offers improved diagnostic accuracy for early detection and better risk stratification for prognosis compared to the current standard, AFP.},
DOI = {10.32604/or.2025.070392}
}