Korean J Hepatol.  2000 Jun;6(2):205-214.

Clinical Usefulness of PIVKA-II and Lens Culinaris Agglutinin-A Reactive Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP-L3) for the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Byun BH
• Park YM
• Bae SH
• Choi JY
• Sung KY
• Cho SH
• Hahn NI
• Yang JM
• Choi SO
• Cha SB
• Chung KW
• Sun HS
• Park DH
• Kim BS

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin(DCP), a protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II(PIVKA-II), and Lens culinaris agglutinin-A reactive AFP-L3 have been reported to be useful markers for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, both the PIVKA-II and AFP-L3 were analyzed and compared with a conventional AFP to determine its usefulness, specificity and sensitivity in the diagnosis of HCC. METHODS: Sera were collected from 108 patients consisting of 17 patients with chronic hepatitis, 22 patients with liver cirrhosis and 69 patients with HCC. The AFP-L3 was determined by an lectin affinity electrophoresis coupled with an antibody-affinity blotting. Level of DCP was measured by an enzyme immunoassay with an anti-DCP monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of PIVKA-II and AFP L3 were 49.3% and 89.5%, and 32.5% and 85.7%, respectively. No significant correlation was found between the PIVKA-II or AFP L3 and serum AFP. No correlation was found between the PIVKA-II or AFP L3 and the characteristics of HCC. CONCLUSION: The determination of plasma DCP and AFP L3 levels combined with AFP levels may be useful especially for the differential diagnosis between HCC and chronic liver diseases without HCC.

Keyword

Neoplasm/Liver/Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Alpha-fetoprotein; AFP-L3; PIVKA-II; Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin(DCP); Tumor markers

MeSH Terms

alpha-Fetoproteins
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
Diagnosis*
Diagnosis, Differential
Electrophoresis
Hepatitis, Chronic
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Lens Plant*
Liver Cirrhosis
Liver Diseases
Plasma
Sensitivity and Specificity
Biomarkers, Tumor
Vitamin K
Vitamin K
alpha-Fetoproteins