scholarly journals Clinical Utility of Alpha Fetoprotein and HCCR-1, Alone or in Combination, in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis, Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 307-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Jirun ◽  
Guoxin Zhang ◽  
Hyun Kee Kim ◽  
Seon-Ah Ha ◽  
Jin Zhongtian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Alpha Fetoprotein ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Serum Alpha Fetoprotein ◽  
Immunohistochemical Studies ◽  
A Prospective Study

Serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is the most widely used tumor marker in detecting patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it has been indicated that HCCR-1 (human cervical cancer oncogene 1) might be supplementary to AFP in the detection. We conducted a prospective study in 120 normal and 524 liver disease patients to evaluate the significance of simultaneous measurement of 2 tumor markers (AFP and HCCR-1) in the diagnosis of HCC through the cohort study in Korea and China. We also performed immunohistochemical studies using 25 normal subjects (N), 32 liver cirrhosis (LC) and 116 HCC tissues. The sensitivities of AFP (20 ng/mL) and HCCR-1 (10 ng/mL) in HCC were 55.8% (164/294) and 44.2% (130/294), respectively. When AFP was combined with HCCR-1, sensitivities increased to 4.2% (N), 12.7% (chronic hepatitis; CH), 50.0% (LC), and 77.2% (HCC), respectively. Although there was no significant difference in the diagnostic rate for HCC between AFP and HCCR-1, many cases for AFP-negative HCC were positive for HCCR-1 and vice versa. Moreover, the combined use of AFP and HCCR-1 improved the diagnostic rate to 70.8% in small HCC (< 2 cm) and 81.6% in large HCC (≥ 2 cm), respectively. AFP and HCCR-1 are independent markers. Our result suggests that the HCCR-1 could be an useful biomarker for HCC while the diagnostic rate could be significantly improved in the combined use of HCCR-1 and AFP.

scholarly journals Combined Analysis of Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein and MAGE-A3-Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in Peripheral Blood for Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 915-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuqingqing Cui ◽  
Xin Yu ◽  
Limin Guo ◽  
Yuhua Wei ◽  
Shengmin Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Alpha Fetoprotein ◽  
Detection Technology ◽  
Serum Alpha Fetoprotein ◽  
Malignant Lesions ◽  
Combined Detection

We investigated the feasibility of the combined detection of HLA-A2/MAGE-A3 epitope-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for specific diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We detected the frequency of MAGE-A3 epitopes (p112–120, KVAELVHFL) in spontaneous CTLs in the peripheral blood of HCC patients, liver cirrhosis patients, and healthy subjects with HLA-A2/polypeptide complex (pentamer) detection technology. Eighty-five HCC cases, 38 liver cirrhosis cases, and 50 healthy cases who were HLA-A2-positive were selected from 175 HCC patients, 80 patients with liver cirrhosis, and 105 healthy volunteers, respectively. The frequency of HLA-A2-specific MAGE-A3+CTLs in the HCC group was significantly higher than that in the other groups. Combined detection of MAGE-A3+CTL frequency and serum AFP value had a higher specificity than either of the two indicators alone. The pentamer technique is helpful in distinguishing benign lesions and malignant lesions in the liver. Combined with serum AFP, it can improve the diagnosis performance for HCC, especially for AFP-negative cancer.

scholarly journals Hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C: Experience gained at Clinical Center of Vojvodina

2014 ◽  
Vol 67 (suppl. 2) ◽  
pp. 31-38
Author(s):  
Maja Ruzic ◽  
Milotka Fabri ◽  
Tomislav Preveden ◽  
Sanja Stojanovic ◽  
Zoran Milosevic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis C ◽  
Alpha Fetoprotein ◽  
Focal Lesion ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Introduction. The incidence of chronic hepatitis C and its consequences, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is growing rapidly. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic hepatitis C treated at the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina and therapy options. Material and Methods. This retrospective study included 51 patients (52.9% male and 47.1% female) with chronic hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma treated between 2000 and 2014. The average age of patients was 61.6 years (SD=10.8) and the average duration of hepatitis C virus infection was 30.2 years (SD=11.7). All patients had liver cirrhosis and 43.1% had previously been treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. According to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer criteria, stadium A, B, C and D were found in 15.7%, 52.3%, 19.6% and 11.8% of the patients, respectively. The average value of alpha fetoprotein at the moment of making diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was 397.56 ng/ml and the level of alpha fetoprotein was below 20mg/ml in 26% of patients. Tumor resection, radiofrequency ablation, chemoembolization, systemic chemotherapy and liver transplantation were performed in 13.7%, 3.9%, 1.9%, 1.9% and 5.9% of patients, respectively. Average survival time after the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma among patients included in the study was 1.39 (SD=1.61) years. Conclusion. Ultrasound examinations of the patients with liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus infection are obligatory every 3 months. Etiology of every focal lesion in the liver must be clarified, which could increase the possibility of administration of available therapeutic methods.

Extreme Elevation of Serum Alpha Fetoprotein in Decompensated Cirrhosis without Hcc: an Ominous Sign

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-23
Author(s):  
H. Senturk ◽  
R. Cumali
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Transplantation ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Liver Failure ◽  
Alpha Fetoprotein ◽  
Decompensated Cirrhosis ◽  
Serum Alpha Fetoprotein

Three cases of extreme elevation of serum alpha fetoprotein (>10,000 ng/mL) with decompensated cirrhosis without demonstrable hepatocellular carcinoma are reported. While 2 patients died of liver failure, 1 survived after liver transplantation. Extreme elevation of alpha fetoprotein not associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in liver cirrhosis heralds an ominous prognosis necessitating urgent liver transplantation.

Pattern Analysis of Serum alpha-fetoprotein in the Early Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Liver Cirrhosis

1988 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Arrigoni ◽  
A. Andriulli ◽  
T. Gindro ◽  
P. Piantino ◽  
L. Capussotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Liver Tumors ◽  
Alpha Fetoprotein ◽  
Cutoff Point ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Unique Role ◽  
Early Expression ◽  
Serum Alpha Fetoprotein

In a surveillance program for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was determined every 4 months in 164 patients with liver cirrhosis. Ultrasonography (US) was performed yearly or as dictated by abnormal AFP levels. During a follow-up of 32.5 ± 20.8 months HCC was identified by US in 16 patients. In 9 of them the AFP levels rose steadily over 4 months, increasing 7, 8 and 12 months in 3 cases before the lesion became detectable by US. In 4 patients tumors developed despite persistently normal AFP levels. Nine more patients showed abnormal fluctuations of AFP but HCC was not detected. AFP sensitivity was higher at a low cutoff point (40 ng/ml) while specificity of the test appeared higher at the 200 ng/ml cutoff point. An AFP value rising steeply over a few months appeared more reliable than a fixed preset threshold in indicating carcinomatous transformation. Screening for AFP can be expected to uncover about 3/4 of HCC developing in cirrhotics with few false-positive reactions. The test may have a unique role in identifying a subset of liver tumors whose early expression is AFP production.

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