title: [Detection and evaluation of serum GP73, a resident Golgi glycoprotein, as a marker in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine if Golgi protein-73 (GP73) is up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to explore the possibility of using GP73 in diagnosis and treatment of HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum GP73 was detected by a quantitative ELISA assay. A total of 372 serum samples were included, among them 43 from healthy donors (Normal), 110 from either chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis (CH/LC), and 219 from HCC patients. The levels of GP73 were compared among the 3 groups. The received operating curve (ROC), sensitivity and specificity of GP73 for HCC patients were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average level of GP73 expression in normal, CH/LC and HCC groups were (22.1 ± 8.5) ng/ml, (81.4 ± 57.2) ng/ml and (271.5 ± 202.3) ng/ml, respectively. Serum GP73 levels were significantly higher in patients with HCC compared to those with CH/LC (P < 0.001). The GP73 area under ROC was 0.857. Put 100 ng/ml as the optimal cut-off point, GP73 had a sensitivity of 76.7% and a specifically of 73.2%. GP73 level had a significantly higher sensitivity than AFP (32.0%) in diagnosis of early HCC (P < 0.001). Moreover, GP73 level was elevated in the serum (72.5%, 108/149) of individuals with HCC who had serum AFP level less than 400 ng/ml. Following-up study of 4 HCC patients with low level AFP indicated that GP73 was associated with treatment and prognosis of HCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher level of GP73 can be found in the serum of patients with HCC than those without. GP73 is better than AFP for the diagnosis of early HCC and in evaluating treatment result in patients with normal AFP. Further studies may help to validate both the role and mechanism of GP73 in diagnosis of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Laboratory, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China. zhaoxiuying2001@163.com
authors.forename: Xiu-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui-Guo
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Fei-Fei
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; 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; D055815:Young Adult; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C410824:GOLM1 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins