Osteopontin Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Summary
Elevated osteopontin levels have emerged as promising biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the primary form of liver malignancy and a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Osteopontin is a multifunctional glycoprotein involved in cell–matrix interactions, survival signalling and immune modulation. In HCC, both circulating and tissue-bound osteopontin correlate with tumour stage, vascular invasion and overall prognosis. Its roles in epithelial–mesenchymal transition, metastatic potential and cancer stem cell maintenance underpin its value not only in early detection but also as a predictor of recurrence and response to therapy. Advances in assay sensitivity have further improved the clinical utility of osteopontin measurement, offering potential integration with existing screening modalities to enhance diagnostic accuracy, particularly in regions with high disease burden.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Osteopontin Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in osteopontin biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Osteopontin (OPN): A secreted glycoprotein that functions as a cytokine and extracellular matrix component involved in cell adhesion, migration and signalling.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): The most common primary malignancy of the liver, often arising in the context of chronic liver disease.
Biomarker: A measurable molecule or parameter that indicates normal or pathogenic processes or responses to therapeutic intervention.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules derived from oxygen that can mediate cellular signalling or cause oxidative damage.
DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1): An enzyme responsible for maintenance of DNA methylation patterns, playing a key role in epigenetic regulation.
References
- Down-Regulation of Osteopontin Suppresses Growth and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Via Induction of Apoptosis. Gastroenterology (2008).
- Osteopontin alters DNA methylation through up-regulating DNMT1 and sensitizes CD133+/CD44+ cancer stem cells to 5 azacytidine in hepatocellular carcinoma. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research (2018).
- Osteopontin promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression through inducing JAK2/STAT3/NOX1-mediated ROS production. Cell Death & Disease (2022).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.