Levels of serum markers of liver cancer: in a rat model of liver cancer versus elderly patients with liver cancer

Abstract

Objective To detect the expression levels of serum alpha fetal protein(AFP), carbohydrate antigen 199(CA-199) and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) in a rat model of liver cancer and elderly liver cancer patients, and explore its clinical significance. Methods A rat model of liver cancer was successfully established by intraperitoneal injection of a low dose of diethylnitrosamine(DEN). The expression levels of serum AFP, CA-199 and CEA in rats were determined and compared during the development of liver cancer. Blood samples were collected from elderly subjects with normal liver and elderly liver cancer patients(n=80, each). The expressions of serum AFP, CA-199 and CEA were determined and compared between healthy elderly patients and elderly liver cancer patients. Results Serum levels of AFP, CA-199 and CEA were higher in liver cancer rats than in normal rats〔(4.21±1.32) μg/L vs. (1.05±0.33) μg/L, (3.78±1.04) kU/L vs.(1.00±0.28) kU/L, (3.54±0.92) μg/L vs. (1.10±0.37) μg/L, t=9.493, 8.609, 7.675, respectively, all P=0.000〕. Serum AFP, CA-199 and CEA levels were higher in elderly patients with liver cancer than in elderly subjects with normal liver 〔(66.89±9.33) μg/L vs.(2.56±1.09) μg/L, (116.89±43.33) kU/L vs.(5.56±1.26) kU/L, (5. 83 ± 1. 56) μg/L vs.(1. 17 ± 0.51) μg/L(t=14.379, 17.470, 10.677, respectively, all P=0.000). The positive rate of joint detection of AFP, CA-199 and CEA was higher in elderly patients with liver cancer than in elderly subjects with normal liver 〔77.50%(62/80) vs. 1.25%(1/80), χ2=17.260, P=0.000〕. Conclusions The joint detection of AFP, CA-199 and CEA can help increase the diagnostic rate of liver cancer in elderly patients. Key words: Live neoplasms; Biological markers