{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T05:35:27Z","timestamp":1776836127707,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776816000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Oncol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study aimed to identify and validate noninvasive serum protein and metabolite biomarkers for the early detection and prognostic assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In this study, we systematically analyzed serum proteomics and metabolomics across four cohorts, including healthy controls (Health) and patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC), and HCC. Standardized sample handling protocols were applied, and high-resolution mass spectrometry combined with rigorous statistical analyses was used to identify differential proteins and metabolites.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Our analyses indicated that GRHPR was able to distinguish HCC from non-HCC conditions. GRHPR demonstrated good individual diagnostic performance, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.936. Moreover, a combined biomarker panel incorporating GRHPR and isobutyric acid achieved an AUC of 0.988. After internal validation using bootstrap resampling, the corrected AUC was 0.978, suggesting that the model retained favorable discriminatory performance. Collectively, these findings support the potential feasibility of a non-invasive, serum-based diagnostic signature that integrates proteomic and metabolomic data for the early detection of HCC.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In summary, this study suggests that specific serum proteins and metabolites may facilitate the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma. GRHPR and isobutyric acid showed relatively strong diagnostic performance, and GRHPR may also have prognostic value. The combined panel demonstrated improved discriminatory ability. Together, these findings support the potential utility of integrating proteomic and metabolomic markers as a non-invasive approach for HCC identification.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fonc.2026.1797408","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T04:35:27Z","timestamp":1776832527000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Serum proteomics and metabolomics reveal novel noninvasive molecular signatures for hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Lin","family":"Lin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Clinical Research Center for Clinical Immunology Laboratory Test, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reginal Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Weiquan","family":"You","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Clinical Research Center for Clinical Immunology Laboratory Test, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reginal Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Zhaopei","family":"Guo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Clinical Research Center for Clinical Immunology Laboratory Test, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reginal Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lu","family":"Lai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Clinical Research Center for Clinical Immunology Laboratory Test, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reginal Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xiangjun","family":"Tang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Clinical Research Center for Clinical Immunology Laboratory Test, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reginal Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yan","family":"Pan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Clinical Research Center for Clinical Immunology Laboratory Test, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reginal Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yutong","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Clinical Research Center for Clinical Immunology Laboratory Test, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reginal Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Qishui","family":"Ou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Clinical Research Center for Clinical Immunology Laboratory Test, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reginal Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ya","family":"Fu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Fujian Clinical Research Center for Clinical Immunology Laboratory Test, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reginal Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"526","DOI":"10.1186\/s12967-023-04386-y","article-title":"Advances in radiotherapy and immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma","volume":"21","author":"Yang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Transl Med"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/14651858.CD013731.pub2","article-title":"Gene therapy for people with hepatocellular carcinoma","volume":"6","author":"Naing","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ebiom.2023.104962","article-title":"Cell-free DNA testing for early hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance","volume":"100","author":"Chen","year":"2024","journal-title":"eBioMedicine"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41571-023-00825-3","article-title":"Global trends in hepatocellular carcinoma epidemiology: implications for screening, prevention and therapy","volume":"20","author":"Singal","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nat Rev Clin Oncol"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2024.12.030","article-title":"Differences between hepatocellular carcinoma caused by alcohol and other aetiologies","volume":"82","author":"Ganne-Carri\u00e9","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Hepatol"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.1007\/s00018-024-05535-2","article-title":"Ebastine-mediated destabilization of E3 ligase MKRN1 protects against metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis","volume":"82","author":"Kim","year":"2025","journal-title":"Cell Mol Life Sci"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2021.06.028","article-title":"Single-cell atlas of tumor cell evolution in response to therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma","volume":"75","author":"Ma","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Hepatol"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bios.2022.113982","article-title":"An automated and mobile magnetoresistive biosensor system for early hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis","volume":"202","author":"Yao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Biosens Bioelectron"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.14309\/ajg.0000000000002015","article-title":"Emerging tools for hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance","volume":"117","author":"Singal","year":"2022","journal-title":"Am J Gastroenterol"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mcpro.2024.100872","article-title":"Screening of cancer-specific biomarkers for hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma based on a proteome microarray","volume":"23","author":"Hao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Mol Cell Proteomics"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41575-022-00620-y","article-title":"Circulating biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma","volume":"19","author":"Johnson","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2023.1188277","article-title":"Current insights into the hepatic microenvironment and advances in immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma","volume":"14","author":"Zhao","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Immunol"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copbio.2023.103044","article-title":"Complement-dependent uptake of nanoparticles by blood phagocytes: brief overview and perspective","volume":"85","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"Curr Opin Biotechnol"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smim.2025.101976","article-title":"Local and cell-intrinsic complement: The new player in cancer progression","volume":"79","author":"Revel","year":"2025","journal-title":"Semin Immunol"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/jitc-2024-010947","article-title":"Targeted delivery of CCL3 reprograms macrophage antigen presentation and enhances the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma","volume":"13","author":"Liu","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Immunother Cancer"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1101\/gr.275437.121","article-title":"A full-proteome, interaction-specific characterization of mutational hotspots across human cancers","volume":"32","author":"Chen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Genome Res"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.abf2911","article-title":"A protein network map of head and neck cancer reveals PIK3CA mutant drug sensitivity","volume":"374","author":"Swaney","year":"2021","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1186\/s13045-023-01517-2","article-title":"Multiscale protein networks systematically identify aberrant protein interactions and oncogenic regulators in seven cancer types","volume":"16","author":"Song","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Hematol Oncol"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1182\/blood.V90.9.3404","article-title":"Matrix glycoprotein SC1\/ECM2 augments B lymphopoiesis","volume":"90","author":"Oritani","year":"1997","journal-title":"Blood"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.15252\/embr.202255399","article-title":"Concomitant deletion of Ptpn6 and Ptpn11 in T cells fails to improve anticancer responses","volume":"23","author":"Ventura","year":"2022","journal-title":"EMBO Rep"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41586-023-06676-3","article-title":"Disruption of sugar nucleotide clearance is a therapeutic vulnerability of cancer cells","volume":"623","author":"Doshi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6087","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-020-19919-y","article-title":"MINPP1 prevents intracellular accumulation of the chelator inositol hexakisphosphate and is mutated in Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia","volume":"11","author":"Ucuncu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nat Commun"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/ajt.14418","article-title":"Combined liver\u2013kidney transplantation for primary hyperoxaluria type 2: A case report","volume":"18","author":"Dhondup","year":"2018","journal-title":"Am J Transplant"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/cbr.2023.0018","article-title":"GRHPR, targeted by miR-138-5p, inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma through PI3K\/AKT signaling pathway","volume":"39","author":"Yang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cancer Biother Radiopharm"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000346476","article-title":"Glyoxylate reductase\/hydroxypyruvate reductase: A novel prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative resection","volume":"80","author":"Pan","year":"2013","journal-title":"Pathobiology"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1038\/s41698-025-00960-3","article-title":"Bifidobacterium boosts anti-PD-1 effectiveness through JAK pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma","volume":"9","author":"Huo","year":"2025","journal-title":"NPJ Precis Onc"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/cas.15920","article-title":"Isobutyric acid promotes colorectal cancer metastasis through activating RACK1","volume":"114","author":"Chen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cancer Sci"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"698","DOI":"10.1007\/s12072-022-10473-x","article-title":"Biomarkers of hepatocellular synthesis in patients with decompensated cirrhosis","volume":"17","author":"Gurbuz","year":"2023","journal-title":"Hepatol Int"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/hep4.1881","article-title":"Treatment with simvastatin and rifaximin restores the plasma metabolomic profile in patients with decompensated cirrhosis","volume":"6","author":"Pose","year":"2022","journal-title":"Hepatol Commun"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Oncology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fonc.2026.1797408\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T04:35:31Z","timestamp":1776832531000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fonc.2026.1797408\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]]},"references-count":29,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fonc.2026.1797408"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fonc.2026.1797408","relation":{},"ISSN":["2234-943X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2234-943X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]]},"article-number":"1797408"}}