Study of early warning of liver cancer by AFP-L3 determined in AFP low concentrations

Objectives To investigate the role of early warning of liver cancer by alpha-fetoprotein heterogeneity L3(AFP-L3) determined in the alpha-fetoprotein low concentrations.Methods The serum of 114 cases of liver disease patients with AFP increased,serum AFP-L3 variants were separated by micro-centrifugal column,the serum AFP-L3 and the original serum AFP levels were detected at the same time.To calculate the proportion of AFP-L3 in AFP,37 cases of suspected liver cancer patients with low AFP concentrations were tracked 6～10 months,the warning of HCC were analysised by AFP-L3 elevated.results:Compared with benign liver disease group the serum AFP-L3 positive rate was significantly higher than HCC group and suspected liver cancer group(80.77%,62.16%,11.76%,P0.05);23 cases of AFP-L3 positive patients among 37 cases suspected liver cancer patients with AFP low concentrations(52.21～384.18 ng/ml),14 cases in 6 months after diagnosis of liver cancer and 4 cases in 10 months,3 cases were early diagnosis of single small hepatocellular carcinoma by imaging in 18 cases diagnosed with liver cancer;no correlation was found between AFP-L3 percentage and AFP concentration(r=0.19,P0.05).Conclusions The detection of alpha-fetoprotein heterogeneity L3(AFP-L3) in alpha-fetoprotein low concentrations are significance for the diagnosis of early liver cancer.