Abstract
Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a significant marker for clinical diagnosis and prognosis evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, some proportion of liver cancer patients are AFP-negative (AFP ≤20 ng/ml). In order to study the differences between clinicopathological factors and prognosis of alpha-fetoprotein negative and positive patients, a total of 114 cases (41 AFP-negative and 73 AFP-positive) were selected for our research. By systematically statistical analysis, the results demonstrated that compared with AFP-negative patients, AFP-positive examples were more likely to feature cirrhosis nodules, non-complete neoplasm capsules, and a poor Edmondson-steiner grade. Furthermore, AFP-negative patients demonstrated a favorable long-term prognosis. By univariate analysis and multivariate analysis with Cox's proportional hazards model, multiple tumors were found to be independent risk factors for worse survival of AFP negative patients; however, less tumor-free margins, multiple tumors and Edmondson-steiner grades III/IV, proved to be independent risk factors leading to a poor prognosis of AFP positive cases. Finally, we can infer that high levels of AFP signify a highly malignant tumor and unfavorable prognosis.
Highlights
From a global cancer statistics in 2011, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in men is the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer mortality all over the world
By univariate analysis and multivariate analysis with Cox’s proportional hazards model, multiple tumors were found to be independent risk factors for worse survival of AFP negative patients; less tumor-free margins, multiple tumors and Edmondson-steiner grades III/IV, proved to be independent risk factors leading to a poor prognosis of AFP positive cases
In 1963, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was first found in the serum of mice suffering from liver cancer; Soon afterwards it was detected in the serum of hepatocellular carcinoma patients in 1964 (Alpert et al, 1968; Abelev et al, 1971)
Summary
From a global cancer statistics in 2011, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in men is the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer mortality all over the world. In women, it is the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer and the sixth important cause of cancer death. Human alpha-fetoprotein is the normal product only during gestation It is synthesized by developing liver beginning at 6 weeks of gestation but the synthesis will cease at or near birth, and the concentration will decline to a low level (less than 10ng/ml). We expect to reveal the differences of clinicopathological factors and prognosis in two groups
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call