BACKGROUND: The recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgery is common. The present study was conducted in order to clarify the significance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the detection of the early recurrence of HCC after surgery. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients who underwent a curative hepatic resection for HCC and whose preoperative AFP levels were >100 ng/ml, were selected for this study. RESULTS: In 26 cases, the postoperative AFP levels within 3 months after surgery did not decrease to <20 ng/ml (high AFP group). In the other 32 cases, the postoperative AFP levels within 3 months after surgery decreased to <20 ng/ml (low AFP group). No significant difference was observed in clinical or pathological backgrounds. The postoperative disease free rate in the low and high AFP groups was 84.2% and 18.4%, at 1 year, 61.2 and 4.6% at 3 years, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). At the time of recurrence, the AFP levels increased in 25 (96.2%) of the patients who had early recurrence within 1 year after surgery as well as in 11 of 14 (78.5%) who had recurrence >1 year after surgery. The interval from surgery to recurrence significantly correlated with the doubling time of AFP at the time of recurrence in patients with early recurrence (within 1 year after hepatectomy) (r = 0.60, P < 0.01). In cases in which the preoperative AFP level was >100 ng/ml and the postoperative AFP level did not decrease to <20 ng/ml, early recurrence within 1 year after surgery would thus be strongly suspected. CONCLUSION: The measurement of the AFP levels after surgery is therefore considered to be important in the follow-up of hepatectomized patients, especially regarding the detection of early recurrence.
BACKGROUND: The recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgery is common. The present study was conducted in order to clarify the significance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the detection of the early recurrence of HCC after surgery. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients who underwent a curative hepatic resection for HCC and whose preoperative AFP levels were >100 ng/ml, were selected for this study. RESULTS: In 26 cases, the postoperative AFP levels within 3 months after surgery did not decrease to <20 ng/ml (high AFP group). In the other 32 cases, the postoperative AFP levels within 3 months after surgery decreased to <20 ng/ml (low AFP group). No significant difference was observed in clinical or pathological backgrounds. The postoperative disease free rate in the low and high AFP groups was 84.2% and 18.4%, at 1 year, 61.2 and 4.6% at 3 years, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). At the time of recurrence, the AFP levels increased in 25 (96.2%) of the patients who had early recurrence within 1 year after surgery as well as in 11 of 14 (78.5%) who had recurrence >1 year after surgery. The interval from surgery to recurrence significantly correlated with the doubling time of AFP at the time of recurrence in patients with early recurrence (within 1 year after hepatectomy) (r = 0.60, P < 0.01). In cases in which the preoperative AFP level was >100 ng/ml and the postoperative AFP level did not decrease to <20 ng/ml, early recurrence within 1 year after surgery would thus be strongly suspected. CONCLUSION: The measurement of the AFP levels after surgery is therefore considered to be important in the follow-up of hepatectomized patients, especially regarding the detection of early recurrence.
Authors: Yeshika Sharma; Michael J Weaver; Daniel R Ludwig; Kathryn Fowler; Neeta Vachharajani; William C Chapman; Jeffrey S Crippin Journal: Surgery Date: 2017-12-25 Impact factor: 3.982
Authors: Indra Bachtiar; Valentine Kheng; Gunawan A Wibowo; Rino A Gani; Irsan Hasan; Andri Sanityoso; Unggul Budhihusodo; Syafruddin Ar Lelosutan; Ruswhandi Martamala; Wenny A Achwan; Soewignyo Soemoharjo; Ali Sulaiman; Laurentius A Lesmana; Susan Tai Journal: BMC Res Notes Date: 2010-11-23
Authors: Jinhong Jung; Sang Min Yoon; Seungbong Han; Ju Hyun Shim; Kang Mo Kim; Young-Suk Lim; Han Chu Lee; So Yeon Kim; Jin-Hong Park; Jong Hoon Kim Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2015-12-18 Impact factor: 4.430