BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the usefulness of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) assay in a group of high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma DCP and serum-alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations were prospectively measured in 137 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). RESULTS: During the mean observation period of 3.4 years, HCC developed in 35 patients (25.5%; yearly rate 7.5%), of whom 16 (45.7%) had a small tumor < or = 2 cm in diameter. Eight patients (22.9%) had significantly elevated DCP at the time of HCC detection. However, all these tumors measured > 2 cm and were multiple or diffuse type. In cases with a tumor diameter < or = 2 cm HCC was diagnosed by imaging and elevated AFP concentrations. In contrast, elevated DCP frequently leads to the detection of tumors > 2 cm or those of diffuse type, which are difficult to recognize with imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, although DCP alone is not sensitive enough to detect early small liver cancers, the use of both markers and imaging in the follow-up of patients with LC might be beneficial.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the usefulness of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) assay in a group of high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma DCP and serum-alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations were prospectively measured in 137 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). RESULTS: During the mean observation period of 3.4 years, HCC developed in 35 patients (25.5%; yearly rate 7.5%), of whom 16 (45.7%) had a small tumor < or = 2 cm in diameter. Eight patients (22.9%) had significantly elevated DCP at the time of HCC detection. However, all these tumors measured > 2 cm and were multiple or diffuse type. In cases with a tumor diameter < or = 2 cm HCC was diagnosed by imaging and elevated AFP concentrations. In contrast, elevated DCP frequently leads to the detection of tumors > 2 cm or those of diffuse type, which are difficult to recognize with imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, although DCP alone is not sensitive enough to detect early small liver cancers, the use of both markers and imaging in the follow-up of patients with LC might be beneficial.
Authors: Anna S Lok; Richard K Sterling; James E Everhart; Elizabeth C Wright; John C Hoefs; Adrian M Di Bisceglie; Timothy R Morgan; Hae-Young Kim; William M Lee; Herbert L Bonkovsky; Jules L Dienstag Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2009-10-20 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Apinya Leerapun; Sri V Suravarapu; John P Bida; Raynell J Clark; Elizabeth L Sanders; Teresa A Mettler; Linda M Stadheim; Ileana Aderca; Catherine D Moser; David M Nagorney; Nicholas F LaRusso; Piet C de Groen; K V Narayanan Menon; Konstantinos N Lazaridis; Gregory J Gores; Michael R Charlton; Rosebud O Roberts; Terry M Therneau; Jerry A Katzmann; Lewis R Roberts Journal: Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2007-03 Impact factor: 11.382
Authors: Yong Kang Lee; Seung Up Kim; Do Young Kim; Sang Hoon Ahn; Kwang Hun Lee; Do Yun Lee; Kwang-Hyub Han; Chae Yoon Chon; Jun Yong Park Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2013-01-03 Impact factor: 4.430