Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Serum Transforming Growth Factor α and Serum Arginase versus Alpha fetoprotein in Hepatocellular Carcinoma patients before and after Local Ablative Therapy

Abstract

H epatocellular carcinoma is the third cause of cancer death and the leading cause of mortality among cirrhotic patients. Early detection of HCC by tumour markers, imaging and liver biopsy is essential for improving the prognosis and long-term survival. Because of the late detection and lack of treatment, more than two-thirds of patients are diagnosed at advanced stages of HCC, leading to the 5-year survival rate less than 10%. Surgical resection, liver transplantation and local ablation therapies are currently recognized as potentially curative treatment modalities This study was conducted on 40 patients with HCC (cases) and 10 other patients with liver cirrhosis only (controls), to assess and compare the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum TGF-α and serum arginase versus AFP in Egyptian HCC patients before and after loco-regional treatment of HCC patients by RFA or TACE. Patients with liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A class) without HCC (controls) were investigated for different tumour markers (AFP, serum TGF-α and serum arginase) and results compared with the levels of these tumour markers in HCC patients.