Abstract: Problem statement: Hepatocellular carcinoma will emerge as a major form of malignancy
in the coming decades. The continuing high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma, suggests that this
disease will continue to represent a global health problem far into the future. Different genes encode
for the various components of the human telomerase complex. These components include the human
Telomerase RNA Component (hTERC) and the Telomerase Catalytic Subunit (hTERT). Correlation
between Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) expression and telomerase activity has been
reported in cancer patients. This work aimed to clarify the significance of human Telomerase
Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT mRNA) as a potential molecular tumor marker for Hepatocellular
Carcinoma (HCC). Approach: The current study included 25 patients of hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC), 30 patients with liver cirrhosis and 25 age and sex matched individuals with normal
laboratory and Image findings as a control group. hTERT mRNA was measured in plasma by Real
time PCR in all patients samples in comparison with normal healthy controls. Results: The
expression of hTERT mRNA by relative unit was 129.10±27.6 with range (67.72-69.6) Vs
5245.87±2382.48 (2053-12232.90) Vs 92782.76±16158 (61783.25-118596.47) for control Vs
cirrhosis Vs HCC group respectively. The hTERT expression was significantly with 699 and 33 fold
increase in HCC and cirrhosis groups correspondingly when compared to that of controls p