title: Abnormal plasma prothrombin (PIVKA-II) levels in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: The concentration of abnormal prothrombin, or the protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) in 102 patients with hepatic disorders was measured by an enzyme immunoassay method. The concentration of PIVKA-II in the plasma was elevated in 11 out of 18 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and also in a patient with hepatoblastoma. There was no correlation between serum alpha-fetoprotein and plasma PIVKA-II levels. The PIVKA-II level was normal in 11 patients who had metastatic carcinoma or cholangiocellular carcinoma. Moreover, benign diseases of the liver did not cause an elevation in PIVKA-II. PIVKA-II might be an useful marker of hepatocellular carcinoma because, like alpha-fetoprotein, its level changes in close relation to the effects of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011498:Protein Precursors; C008208:acarboxyprothrombin; D011516:Prothrombin