title: Early decrease in α-fetoprotein, but not des-γ-carboxy prothrombin, predicts sorafenib efficacy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between early changes in the tumor markers α-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), and antitumor response in the early period following administration of sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight advanced HCC patients were evaluated. AFP and DCP were measured at baseline, and after 2 and 4 weeks, and the antitumor responses were evaluated according to the RECIST criteria 4 weeks after starting sorafenib therapy. The ratios of each tumor marker were compared by stratifying the patients into the partial response (PR) + stable disease (SD) group or the progressive disease (PD) group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both 2 and 4 weeks after starting sorafenib therapy, the AFP ratio in the PR + SD group (n = 32) was significantly lower than in the PD group (n = 16; p = 0.002, p = 0.002). DCP was elevated in both the PR + SD group and the PD group 2 weeks and 4 weeks after starting sorafenib therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluation of AFP ratios 2 and 4 weeks after starting sorafenib therapy may be useful for predicting antitumor response. On the other hand, early elevation of DCP does not necessarily suggest treatment failure by sorafenib, as DCP elevation can occur despite therapeutic efficacy.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Teiji
authors: T
authors: Kuzuya
authors: Yasuhiro
authors: Y
authors: Asahina
authors: Kaoru
authors: K
authors: Tsuchiya
authors: Keisuke
authors: K
authors: Tanaka
authors: Yuichiro
authors: Y
authors: Suzuki
authors: Takahide
authors: T
authors: Hoshioka
authors: Shinji
authors: S
authors: Tamaki
authors: Tomoji
authors: T
authors: Kato
authors: Yutaka
authors: Y
authors: Yasui
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Hosokawa
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Ueda
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Nakanishi
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Itakura
authors: Yuka
authors: Y
authors: Takahashi
authors: Masayuki
authors: M
authors: Kurosaki
authors: Namiki
authors: N
authors: Izumi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D011516:Prothrombin; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077157:Sorafenib; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C097353:AFP protein, human; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011725:Pyridines; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D009536:Niacinamide; C008208:acarboxyprothrombin; D011516:Prothrombin; D000077157:Sorafenib