GP73, a resident Golgi glycoprotein, is a novel serum marker for hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Golgi protein-73 (GP73) is up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aims of this study were to determine if GP73 is detected in the serum, and to establish the sensitivity and specificity of serum GP73 for diagnosing HCC.


METHODS
Serum GP73 was detected by immunoblots and quantified by densitometric analysis.


RESULTS
A total of 352 patients were studied. Serum GP73 levels were significantly higher in patients with HCC compared to those with cirrhosis (P < 0.001). GP73 had a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 75% at the optimal cutoff point of 10 relative units, with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.79 vs. 0.61 for AFP (P = 0.001). GP73 levels had significantly higher sensitivity (62%) than AFP (25%) for diagnosing early HCC (P < 0.0001). Moreover, GP73 levels were elevated in the serum of 57% (32/56) of individuals with HCC who had serum AFP levels less than 20ng/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher levels of GP73 can be found in the serum of patients with HCC than of those without. GP73 was better than AFP for the diagnosis of early HCC. Further validation studies are needed to confirm the role of GP73 in the early detection of HCC.
Marrero
Jorge A
JA
Division of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical Center, 3912 Taubman Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0362, USA. jmarrero@umich.edu
Romano
Patrick R
PR
Nikolaeva
Olga
O
Steel
Laura
L
Mehta
Anand
A
Fimmel
Claus J
CJ
Comunale
Mary Ann
MA
D'Amelio
Anthony
A
Lok
Anna S
AS
Block
Timothy M
TM
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; C410824:GOLM1 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins