Abstract:
Objective To determine values of detecting alpha-fetoprotein-L3(AFP-L3), des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin(DCP) and alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) alone or in combination for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).
Methods Serum samples from 259 patients, including 130 HCC cases without treatment and 129 cases as controls, were detected for AFP by ECLIA, DCP and AFP-L3 by ELISA respectively. They were also analyzed by Receiver operating characteristic (ROC).
Results The sensitivity of AFP-L3, DCP, and AFP was 48.7%, 42.5%, 68.7%, respectively. And the specificity was 97.7%, 98.4%, 92.2%, respectively. Value of the three markers between the HCC group and the control group showed significantly different when compared separately (P<0.05). While those in combination, the sensitivity, specificity were 87.5%, 92.2%. There were 79 HCC patients whose AFP were negative the DCP value of them showed significant differences(P<0.05), while AFP-L3 showed no differences.
Conclusions Among the three markers,AFP is the most sensitive, and DCP is the highest specific. DCP may be the better marker for those AFP-negative patients of HCC. The combination of AFP-L3, DCP and AFP can elevate the sensitivity and have a highly specificity,which is superior for diagnosis of HCC compared with each marker alone or to other combinations.
Key words:
Hepatocellular carcinoma,
Alpha-fetoproteins,
alpha-fetoprotein-L3(AFP-L3),
Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin(DCP),
Tumor markers
Miao-huan KUANG, Wen-ting OU YANG, Jian-hua LIN, Xing-ping WU. Clinical evaluation of three tumor markers in hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis: alpha-fetoprotein-L3, des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin and alpha-fetoprotein[J]. Chinese Archives of General Surgery(Electronic Edition), 2010, 04(04): 311-314.