Comparison of peripheral blood γ-glutamyl trasnpeptidase mRNA subtypes and AFP for prognosis in patients with HCC after operation

Objective To compare the peripheral blood γ-glutamyl trasnpeptidase (GGT) mRNA subtypes and AFP for prognosis in patients with HCC after operation. Methods The GGT mRNA-H subtypes were determined by RT-PCR and AFP by RIA in samples of peripheral blood from 78 patients with HCC. Meanwhile, an 18-month follow-up was conducted for the 49 patients without portal vein and/or extrahepatic metastasis. Results The positive rates of GGT mRNA-H subtypes in peripheral blood were significantly higher in the non-intrahepatic metastasis group, non-portal vein thrombosis group and non-distant metastasis group than in the control (P0.05). The follow-up showed that the rate of portal vein and/or extrahepatic metastasis was markedly higher in the GGT mRNA-H (+) patients than in the GGT mRNA-H (-) ones (P0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the rate between AFP(+) group and AFP(-) group (P0.05). Conclusions The level of GGT mRNA-H subtypes in peripheral blood can not only reflect the metastasis of tumor in patients with HCC but also show the prognosis. Therefore, it can be used as a novel prognostic maker for HCC.