To investigate the expression and clinical significance of serum Golgi protein 73 (GP73) , Alpha-fetoproteins (AFP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in primary hepatic cancer (PHC) patients.

Serum AFP, GP73 and VEGF levels of forty-three PHC patients and 9 patients with benign hepatic tumor were detected by electrochemiluminescence and double antibody sandwich ELISA.

The serum levels of GP73 in different ages, gender, tumor sizes was not significantly different. The serum level of GP73 in hepatitis B virus carriers was significantly higher than no hepatitis B virus carriers, and that in hepatic cirrhosis group was significantly higher than no cirrhosis group (P<0.05) . The serum level of GP73 in PHC group was significantly higher than benign liver tumor group[ (241.413±77.079) vs (101.866±74.192) μg/L, P<0.01]. The serum levels of GP73 , AFP and VEGF before the operation were significantly higher than those after the operation [ (247.231±77.009) μg/L vs (128.334±92.235)μg/L, (674.176±1090.083) μg/L vs(178.560±289.330)μg/L,(256.666±164.76) μg/L vs (149.072±158.643) μg/L, all P<0.01]. The area of AFP, GP73, VEGF under the ROC curve in the differential diagnosis of PHC were 0.894, 0.791, 0.612. The sensitivity and specificity value of GP73 were 88.4% and 77.7%, higher than those of AFP. The sensitivity and specificity value of AFP combined with GP73 reached 96.8% and 63.7%, higher than either single detection.

GP73 is a sensitivity and specificity PHC diagnostic serum markers. AFP combined with GP73 detection has higher accuracy for PHC diagnosis.