Tumor markers after radiofrequency ablation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of measurement of the AFP-L3 fraction before and after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy for HCC, compared with the measurement of total AFP and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP).


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-four patients with HCCs were evaluated for their complete response with a 5-mm-thick safety margin around the tumor. Three tumor markers (AFP, DCP, AFP-L3) were measured after RFA therapy, and their clinical significance was studied.


RESULTS
Multivariate analysis revealed that of the three tumor makers only AFP-L3 showed significant differences in the survival and disease-free rates.


CONCLUSIONS
AFP-L3 is the most reliable tumor marker for estimating overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with HCC effectively treated by RFA in contrast to AFP and DCP.
Ogawa
Chikara
C
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan.
Kudo
Masatoshi
M
Minami
Yasunori
Y
Chung
Hobyung
H
Kawasaki
Toshihiko
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood; D011516:Prothrombin; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
C097353:AFP protein, human; D015415:Biomarkers; D011498:Protein Precursors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C008208:acarboxyprothrombin; D011516:Prothrombin