Identifying Differential Proteins in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using MS

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common forms of liver cancer and has a poor prognosis. Local ablation therapy with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), a method whereby the blood supply to the tumor is restricted, is unfortunately associated with cholangiocellular differentiation in hepatocellular carcinoma. A potential explanation for this is that TACE provides selection pressure in favor of this particular cell population, which may be
resistant to TACE. In the absence of biomarkers to differentiate between hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma tumors or any real understanding of the pathogenesis of these types of tumors, treatment is a challenge and options remain few.