RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect serum hepatoma-specific datura stramonium lectin-tightly binding gamma-glutamyl transferase (DSA-GGT) in patients with primary hepatic cancer (PHC) by avidin-biotin ELISA method which was established in our laboratory, and carry on a study of its clinical application.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To detect serum DSA-GGT in 45 healthy control subjects, 58 PHC patients and 203 non-PHC patients (including 36 patients with other tumors and 167 patients with benign liver diseases) with the method was established; meanwhile, AFP was detected by ELISA method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>38 individuals were DSA-GGT positive in 58 PHC patients, the sensitivity was 65.5%. 18 individuals were DSA-GGT positive in 203 patients without PHC, the specificity was 91.1%. The sensitivity and specificity of AFP in diagnosis of PHC patients was 69.0% and 90.6%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of combination of DSA-GGT and AFP was 93.1% and 85.7%, respectively. The average intra-CV and inter-CV of DSA-GGT ELISA was 8.9% and 11.5%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The sensitivity and specificity of DSA-GGT ELISA method established in our lab is similar with that of AFP assay and the accuracy is good. Combination of DSA-GGT and AFP may improve the diagnostic sensitivity. The method should be potentially as a new way to improve diagnosis of PHC.</p>