Diagnostic and prognostic validity of Golgi protein 73 in hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Golgi protein 73 (GP73) expressions have been detected in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and bile duct carcinoma.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine the serum levels of GP73 in patients with HCC and to compare them with α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels.


METHODS
Seventy-five patients with HCC, 55 patients with cirrhosis and 28 healthy controls were included.


RESULTS
The median serum GP73 levels were 0.27 ng/ml (range = 0.078-4.95) in controls, 0.32 ng/ml (range = 0.078-39.63) in cirrhotics and 0.21 ng/ml (range = 0.053-4.98) in those with HCC. The median serum AFP levels were 1.37 ng/ml (range = 0.61-6.89) in controls, 2.32 ng/ml (range = 0.61-85.24) in cirrhotics and 50.65 ng/ml (range = 0.8-37,642) in HCC patients (p < 0.0001 for HCC vs. controls and cirrhotics). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of GP73 were 82, 9, 55 and 27%, respectively. Whereas the levels were 68, 94, 94 and 70%, respectively, for AFP(13) and 60, 98, 97 and 64% for AFP(20), respectively. There was no correlation between GP73 levels and other prognostic parameters including tumor size, tumor type, Child-Pugh classification, TNM staging, Cancer of the Liver Italian Program score, portal vein thrombosis and extrahepatic metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
GP73 has a lower diagnostic and prognostic value for HCC. AFP is superior to GP73 for diagnosis of early HCC.
Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Hasan
H
Ozkan
Harun
H
Erdal
Hüseyin
H
Tutkak
Zihni
Z
Karaeren
Mustafa
M
Yakut
Osman
O
Yüksel
Seyfettin
S
Köklü
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
C410824:GOLM1 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins