Clinical evaluation of specific gamma-GTP isoenzyme in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

The authors evaluated specific gamma-GTP isoenzyme (specific gamma-GTP) found in sera of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition to band II and II' which had been reported in our previous publication, band I' also had a high specificity for HCC. One or more of these bands were detectable in 109 (55%) of 200 patients with HCC, but only in seven (3%) of 279 patients with other hepatobiliary diseases. Specific gamma-GTP was found in 38% of HCC patients with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels below 400 ng/ml. The incidence of this isoenzyme was independent of the clinical stage as classified by liver scanning. Even in Stage I, where filling defects were not seen, the incidence was 52%. We conclude that the specific gamma-GTP is useful in diagnosis of HCC patients with low levels of AFP or at a relatively early stage.