The value of AFP with lectins affinity in the diagnosis, distinguishable diagnosis, and observation the effects of treatment hepatocellular carcinoma

ABSTRACT

Examination the usefulness of the lectin reactive alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), chronic liver disease (CLD) and patients with HCC treated by transcatheter oil chemoembolization (TOCE). AFP-L3 levels were measured by lectins affinity electrophoresis and antibody affinity blotting. After TOCE, 40 HCC patients were divided in two groups 1st group (n=27) with AFP-L3 15%. Results: The mean value of AFP-L3 in the 110 HCC patients was 54.6  23.7%, significantly higher (p<0.001) than the value in CLD (11.2  3.1%). When the cut-off level was set 15% for AFP-L3, the sensitivity was 96.4%, the specificity was 95%. Survival rates after 12 and 18 months for all 27 patients calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier methods were 88.9% and 63% in the 1st group and 38.5% and 15.3% in the 2nd group, respectively. The recurrence of HCC for 1st and 2nd group were 10.2  3.5 months and 12.0  1.7 months, respectively.