Project Abstract

Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignant tumor of the liver and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Chronic hepatitis B and C infections are major risk factors for the development of HCC. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein that is often used as a biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of HCC. However, the role of AFP in the early detection and prognosis of HCC remains controversial. This research project aims to analyze the alpha-fetoprotein levels in hepatitis patients and evaluate its utility as an aid in assessing the risk of progression to HCC. The study will involve a retrospective analysis of medical records of hepatitis patients with and without HCC to compare the levels of AFP at different stages of the disease. In addition, the study will investigate the correlation between AFP levels and the stage of HCC to determine if AFP can be used as a predictive marker for disease progression. The findings from this study will contribute to the existing knowledge on the role of AFP in the development of HCC in hepatitis patients. Understanding the relationship between AFP levels and the risk of HCC progression can help clinicians in the early detection and management of HCC in high-risk patients. Moreover, the study results may provide insights into the potential use of AFP as a prognostic indicator for HCC, which could improve patient outcomes and guide treatment decisions. Overall, this research project will shed light on the significance of AFP levels in hepatitis patients and their association with the development of HCC. By elucidating the role of AFP as a biomarker for HCC progression, this study has the potential to improve the clinical management of HCC patients and enhance the overall prognosis of this aggressive cancer.

Project Overview

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer. It accounts for 60% of all cancer world wide (Melissa 2004). The most significance cause is the presence of cirrhosis. HCC has unique geographic sex, age distribution that are likely determined by specific actiology factor. It’s distribution also varies among ethnic group within the same country (Munoz 1989). A high incidence of hepatitis B and C may have been an important factor contributing to the development of liver disease (HCC and Cirrhosis) in south eastern Nigeria. However, a recent trend which reveals an increase in cases of liver cirrhosis and hepatitis in our environment suggest that there could be other contributory factors perculiar to our environment besides hepatitis B and C which could be possible explanation to the recent trend. In so doing, it would be necessary to look into the various predisposing/causative factors of chronic hepatitis which could lead to increased cases of liver cirrhosis and HCC in our environment. The risk of developing HCC differs depending on the cause of cirrhosis. For example, cirrhosis due to hepatitis B has a high risk of leading to HCC while the risk of HCC in people with primary biliary cirrhosis, although present is very low. All these human hepatitis viruses are RNA viruses except for hepatitis B virus, which is a DNA virus. Although these viruses can be distinguished by their molecular and antigenic properties, all types of viral hepatitis produce clinically similar illnesses. These range from asymptomatic and unapparent to fulminant and fatal acute infections common to all types, on one hand, and from subclinical persistent infections to rapidly progressive liver disease with cirrhosis and even hepatocullular carcinoma (HCC), common to the blood-borne types (HBV and HCV). Without specific virological test, it is not possible to determine which hepatitis virus is responsible for a case of hepatitis. (Kathleen park et al., 2004).