Value of Serum Alpha-fetoprotein Invariant AFP-L3 Assay in the Differential Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the role of serum alphafetoprotein variant(AFP-L3)assay in the differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and cirrhostic diseases.Methods AFP-L3 was separated from sera of AFP-positive patients(45 HCC patients and 60 cirrhotic patients) by micro-spin columns coupled with lens culinaris agglutinin(LCA).AFP was detected using electrochemiluminescence analysis to determine the amount of AFP-L3 and AFP-L3%(the ratio of AFP-L3 to total AFP).Results The AFP-L3% in HCC patients was significantly higher than that in patients with cirrhosis diseases(F=57.433,P=0.000).The area under curve of Receiver Operating Characteristic of AFP-L3 % was the highest(0.916).The sensitivity and specificity of AFP-L3 for HCC patients was 92.5 % and 84.6 % respectively,with AFP-L3%≥15% being the optimal diagnostic threshold.Conclusion AFP-L3(%)is more sensitive than the amounts of AFP and AFP-L3 in the diagnosis of HCC,and shows certain value in the differential diagnosis of HCC and cirrhosis diseases.