Value of serum Glypican 3 and alpha fetoprotein variants-L3 detection to the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To investigate the serum Glypican 3(GPC3)and alpha-fetoprotein heterogeneity-L3(AFP-L3)value to the diagnosis of primary liver cancer.Methods The serum GPC3 level and the percentage of AFP-L3(AFP-L3%)were detected and compared in 43 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC group),43 patients with chronic hepatitis(hepatitis group),43 patients with liver cirrhosis(cirrhosis group)and 43 healthy volunteers(control group).Results The levels of GPC3 and AFP-L3% were highest in HCC group((10.94±0.58)μg/L,(15.85±2.74)%),followed by cirrhosis group((5.56±0.49)μg/L,(10.72±2.65)%),hepatitis group((2.73±0.46)μg/L,(9.57±2.59)%)and control group((1.15±0.42)μg/L,(9.08±2.55)%),showing significant differences between every two groups(P0.05)except AFP-L3% between hepatitis group and control group(P0.05).The coincidence rate of joint detection of AFP-L3% and GPC3 for HCC was 81.40%,significantly higher than that of single detection of AFP-L3 or GPC3(48.84%,25.58%)(P0.01).Conclusion The joint detection of GPC3 and AFP-L3%can improve the accuracy rate of HCC in the early stage.