Alpha fetoprotein and hepatitis B virus markers in relation to liver cirrhosis and to hepatocellular carcinoma during chemotherapy

ABSTRACT

To find the relation between hepatitis B infection [HBV] and schistosomal hepatic fibrosis [SHF] in hepatocellular carcinoma patients [HCC] and cirrhotic patients, and study the usefulness of AFP and other serological tests in diagnosis of HCC patients and during treatment with 50 mg/m 2 adriamycin intravenously every 3 weeks for 3 and 6 cycles. This study included 25 normal healthy volunteers as control, 25 patients with liver cirrhosis and 25 hepatocellular carcinoma patients. AFP, HBsAg, anti-HBc values were determined by RIA. Needle liver biopsy under ultrasound guidance was made to establish the histological diagnosis. HBV infection developed HCC in 44% of HCC cases, the combination of HBV and SHF developed HCC in only 24% of HCC cases. Positive relation between the tumor size and the level of serum AFP was observed [X 2 = 11.4]. There was a statistically significant increase in serum AFP levels of HCC patient group when compared with the AFP level of cirrhotic and control groups [P2, P1 = 0.0], and also as regards ALP levels [P2, P1 = 0.003]. There was a statistically significant decrease in serum AFP values after treatment by intravenous adriamycin [P = 0.001, 0.04] as well as marked reduction in tumor size