title: [Significance of Golgi glycoprotein 73, a new tumor marker in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a primary study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Golgi glycoprotein 73 (GP73) for the diagnosis of hepatitis B related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Western blotting was used to detect the serum GP73level in 25 patients being HBV carrier, 24 HCC patients, 12 patients with non-liver disease, and 99 healthy controls. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was detected by electrochemiluminescence reaction. The levels of sensitivity and specificity of serum GP73 in diagnosing HCC were compared with those of AFP. The serum GP73 levels of some HCC patients during the perioperative period were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum GP73 level of the HCC patients, all HBV positive, was (40.36 +/- 64.43) relative units, significantly higher than those of the HBV carriers, non-liver patients, and healthy controls [(7.82 +/- 10.72), (4.48 +/- 5.70), and (2.59 +/- 5.12) relative units respectively, all P < 0.01]. There was no difference of GP73 levels between the healthy controls and the patients of non liver diseases (P = 0.2925). The sensitivity of GP73 for the diagnosis of HCC was 76.9%, significantly higher than that of AFP (48.6%). The specificity for the diagnosis of HCC of GP73 was 92.9%. Findings in a few HCC patients showed that the GP73 level remained not remarkably lowered within a week after surgical resection; but became lower 1.5-2 years after surgery. There was no raise of GP73 in the patients with non- malignant liver lesions. The GP73 levels of 4 of the 6 intra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients were between those of the HCC patients and HBV carriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum GP73 has higher sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of hepatitis B-related HCC than AFP, and it can become a new effective HCC tumor marker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China. maoy@public3.bta.net.cn
authors.forename: Yi-Lei
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Hua-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xin-Ting
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Zhi-Ying
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jin-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shou-Xian
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Jie-Fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hong-Bing
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Zhang