The Role of Serum AKR1B10 in Early Warning of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhosis Patients

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a globally prevalent malignancy. In its characteristic "chronic hepatitis-liver cirrhosis-HCC" progression trilogy, patients with cirrhosis demonstrate a 5-year HCC incidence rate of 3%-5%, yet effective monitoring strategies remain lacking. Current early diagnosis relies on the combination of imaging techniques and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), but AFP measurements are frequently confounded by pregnancy and liver diseases, resulting in suboptimal sensitivity and specificity. In recent years, novel tumor biomarkers such as AKR1B10 (Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10) have been examined. This multicenter prospective cohort study aims to validate the predictive value of serum AKR1B10 for malignant transformation in cirrhosis-HCC progression, and evaluate its combined efficacy with existing risk prediction models, ultimately establishing a high-sensitivity early diagnostic strategy for clinical implementation.