Roles of Tumor Markers in Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

There are a wide variety of tumor markers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Studies are ongoing regarding the roles of tumor markers in screening, diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic prediction of HCC. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) can be very useful for HCC surveillance, prognostic prediction, and treatment response evaluation in high-risk patients with HCC. Other tumor markers such as PIVKA-II and AFP-L3% have also been proven to be effective in HCC diagnosis, follow-up, and prognostic prediction; these markers are increasingly used with serum AFP in clinical trials. However, the roles of tumor markers in surveillance are poorly understood and still controversial, requiring further research. HCC surveillance in at-risk population is a critical issue in management of HCC. Further data regarding the predictive value and cost-effectiveness of tumor markers could facilitate their uses in HCC surveillance.