Lysosomal Cathepsins B and L and Stef in A Blood Levels in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and/or Liver Cirrhosis: Potential Clinical Implications

Abstract

The serum levels of lysosomal cathepsin B and L and Stefin A, an intracellular inhibitor of these proteolytic enzymes, were determined in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and/or liver cirrhosis (LC) and correlated with some clinical and biochemical parameters of these diseases. Cathepsin B serum levels were increased in HCC and in LC patients as compared to normal subjects (p