Value of three serum tumor markers to the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),lectin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein(AFP-L3) and Golgi protein 73(GP73) to the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Serum AFP was detected by using electrochemiluminescence assay in 102 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma,79 patients with benign liver diseases and 31 healthy volunteers.AFP-L3 was detected by using affinitive centrifugal tube in patients with positive AFP(20 μg/L).GP73 was quantitatively analyzed by using ELISA.Results The sensitivities of AFP,AFP-L3 and GP73 were 51.96%,75.50% and 77.45%,and the specificities were 50.63%,93.67% and 71.95% respectively in the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.The sensitivity and specificity of the combined detection of three markers were 95.10% and 93.67% in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.The positive rate of AFP-L3 was 96.23% in patients with AFP400 ng/mL,obviously higher than that in those with AFP≤400 ng/mL(53.06%)(P0.05),and there was no significant difference in the positive rate of GP73 between them(75.47% vs 75.51%)(P0.05).Conclusion The combined detection of AFP,AFP-L3 and GP73 can improve the sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.GP73 is superior to AFP in the early diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.