Evaluation of Alpha one Acid Glycoprotein as ANovel Diagnostic Marker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

SUMMARY H epatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies in the world.Until recently; alpha feto protein (AFP) has been the most widely used plasma marker for diagnosis, surveillance and as a prognostic indicator of HCC patients’ survival. Several tumor markers have been proposed as complement or substitute for AFP in HCC diagnosis. Recently, lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3) and des gamma carboxy prothrombin have been approved by the FDA as plasma markers for HCC. AFP-L3 can be detected in the plasma of patients with small tumors. Another potential biomarker for HCC is alpha one acid glycoprotein (AGP).it is an acute phase protein, synthesized predominantly in the liver. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of AGP as novel diagnostic markers for the diagnosis of HCC in comparison with alpha feto protein. This study included two groups: Group (I): (Cirrhotics with HCC group) consists of 40 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, divided into 22 females (55%) and 18 males (45%) with mean age 55.05±8.54, 29 patients HCV+ve and 11 patients HBV+Ve and only 13 patients were PVT+ve. While Group (II): (CLD group Non HCC) consists of 40 with cirrhosis, divided into 21 females (52.5%) and 19 males (47.5%) with mean age 52.85±7.02 yrs 28 patients HCV+ve and 12 patients HBV+Ve and none were PVT+ve. According to the Child-classification group (I) included 5 patients Child A (12.5%), 13 patients Child B (32.5%) and 22 patients Child C (55%) while group (II) included 12 patients Child A (30%), 16 patients Child B (40%) and 12 patients Child C (30%). All patients were non Alcoholic, asthmatic and non pregnant, also negative for HIV, ANA-ve, Cancer ovary, Cancer breast and Cancer pancreas by clinical examination and pelviabdominal CT. In our study we found that there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding the CBC, BUN, albumin, PTT, PT, AST, and D.bil. While there were significant differences between the two groups regarding the ALT, T.Bil and ALP . Regarding the comparison of Child classification between the two groups it shows no significant difference between the two groups .