Serum alpha 1-antitrypsin in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
To evaluate the diagnostic value of alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha-AT) as a tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we studied the serum levels of alpha-AT by rocket immunoelectrophoresis and alpha-fetoprotein (alpha-FP) by radioimmunoassay in 46 proven HCC patients, 43 cirrhosis patients and 200 healthy blood donors. The mean alpha-AT level of the 46 patients with HCC (4.8 +/- 2.7 mg/ml) was significantly higher than that of 200 healthy control subjects (1.7 +/- 0.7 mg/ml) (P less than 0.0001). The sensitivity of alpha-AT in 24 patients with high level of alpha-FP (greater than 400 ng/ml) and 22 patients with low level of alpha-FP (less than 400 ng/ml) were 96% and 64%, respectively. There was no substantial correlation between alpha-FP and alpha-AT in the two groups (alpha-FP greater than 400 ng/ml, alpha-FP less than 400 ng/ml) (r = 0.078, 0.064). The sensitivity for HCC using alpha-FP level alone (greater than 400 ng/ml) was only 52%, and the sensitivity using alpha-AT level alone (greater than 3.2 mg/ml) was 76% of the 46 patients. Combining both tests, sensitivity was improved only to 80%.
Lee
H B
HB
Department of Biological Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Taejon.
Yoo
O J
OJ
Ham
J S
JS
Lee
M H
MH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins