Clinical significances of hepatoma-specific γ-glutamyl transferase and AFP-mRNA analysis in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To explore the clinical values of hepatoma specific γ glutamyl transferase (HS GGT) and α fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA analysis in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC).Methods Total RNAs were extracted from peripheral bllod nuclear cells of patients with HCC,and AFP mRNA was amplified by using a RT PCR assay.Simultaneity,the activity of HS GGT was detected in HCC patients,and clinical values of both markers were analyxed in diagnosis of HCC in the present study.Results The final products of AFP mRNA amplified by RT PCR were 159bp.The incidence of AFP gene fragment was 60.3% in HCC.It was significantly higher ( P 0 01) than that in patients with acute hepatitis,chronic hepatitis,liver cirrhosis,extra hepatic tumors and control groups.The incidence of AFP mRNA was 57.1% in HCC patients with AFP level less than 50mg/ml.All positive of AFP mRNA was found in HCC patients with extra hepatic metastasis (100%).No correlation was found between tumor size and AFP mRNA.The total incidence of AFP mRNA and HS GGT was 93.6% in patients with HCC.Conclusions The present data suggest that the both of AFP mRNA and HS GGT are useful markers for HCC diagnosis and monitoring HCC with distal matastasis or postoperative recurrence.