Evaluation of tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha], soluble P-selectin [sP-selectin], gammaglutamyl transferase [GGT], Glutathione S-tranferase Pi [GST-Pi] and alphafetoprotein [AFP] in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma before and during chemotherapy

ABSTRACT

Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is an environmentally related cancer, with both viral and chemical carcinogens involved in multistage process. Up now, it is difficult to detect the asymptomatic precursor lesions in early stages of HCC. Therefore, the majority of HCC patients are not amenable to curative therapy as they are detected at late stages. To evaluate the significance of TNFa, sP-selectin, GOT, GST-Pi and AFP in the diagnosis and follow up of HCC patients during chemotherapy with adriamycin, 45 subjects were studied [15 healthy volunteers as control group, 15 with benign liver diseases [SHF], and 15 HCC patients before and during chemotherapy [3 cycles of intravenous adriamycin]. HCC patients had significantly higher serum level of TNF alpha, sP-selectin, GGT, GST-Pi and AFP. Serum levels of GGT and GST-Pi were significantly higher in HCC patients with poorly differentiated tumors than in patients with well and moderately differentiated tumors. Treatment with adriamycin for three cycles forced a significant decrease in TNF alpha, sP-selectin and GST-Pi. We conclude that GST-Pi is superior as a diagnostic and may be a prognostic marker in HCC patients