Accuracy of Serum Golgi Protein 73 and Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) to Diagnose Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancy in the liver. Modalities of diagnostic are often an obstacle in HCC surveillance. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is one of protein that often used in the diagnostic of HCC in chronic liver disease. Golgi protein 73 (GP73), is one of the candidate biomarkers in early diagnostic of HCC and found in biliary epithelial cells but rarely expressed by normal hepatocytes. Expression of GP73 was reported to be increased in a large number of malignancies. Aims of this study to evaluate differences in Golgi protein 73 serum (sGP73) and AFP in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with liver cirrhosis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Haji Adam Malik Hospital in 2020. Serum level of GP73 and others biomarker was detected using enzyme-like immunosorbent assay. Results: From 90 subjects, Liver cirrhosis and HCC group had significantly higher AFP than the control group. AFP was superior in determining HCC to GP73. At a cut off value of > 394.5.00 ng/mL, AFP yielded a sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity of 67%, for discriminating liver cirrhosis and HCC (AUC 0.84), while GP73 with cut off value of > 82.5 ng/mL, sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 57% (AUC 0.74). Conclusion:GP73 was significantly higher in HCC patients in comparison to non-HCC patients and healthy population. Compared with alpha fetoprotein, GP73 was superior in discriminating HCC in healthy population but inferior in group of liver cirrhosis. Keywords: Golgi Protein 73, Alpha Fetoprotein, Hepatocellular carcinoma.