title: Value of highly sensitive fucosylated fraction of alpha-fetoprotein for prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after curative treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fucosylated fraction of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) has been used as a diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, a highly sensitive immunoassay using an on-chip electrokinetic reaction and separation by affinity electrophoresis (micro-total analysis system; μTAS) has been developed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between changes in the serum AFP-L3 level measured by μTAS assay and recurrence of HCC after curative treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 414 HCC patients who met the Milan criteria and underwent hepatectomy or radiofrequency ablation were investigated prospectively for the relationship between HCC recurrence and values of tumor markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in recurrence-free survival between groups with and without AFP-L3 elevation measured before and after treatment (p = 0.024 and p = 0.001 for before and after treatment, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that AFP-L3 status (p = 0.002) measured 1 month after treatment was a significant independent predictor of HCC recurrence after curative treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevation of the serum AFP-L3 level before treatment is a predictor of HCC recurrence, and sustained elevation of the AFP-L3 level after treatment is an indicator of HCC recurrence. Repeated measurement of μTAS AFP-L3 should be performed for surveillance of HCC recurrence after curative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 757 Asahimachi Dori-1-Bancho, Chuo-ku, Niigata, 951-8520, Japan. ytamura@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arii
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
authors.forename: Fuminori
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moriyasu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Namiki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: Tadatoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kokudo
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iijima
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood; D011516:Prothrombin; D012008:Recurrence; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011498:Protein Precursors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C008208:acarboxyprothrombin; D011516:Prothrombin