[Detection of alpha-fetoprotein-L3 using agglutinin-coupled spin column to be used in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of use of lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA)-coupled spin column (ACSC) in detection of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) isoform AFP-L3 and to evaluate the value of AFP-L3 as a biomarker in diagnosis of hepatocellular-carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

The serum samples of 132 patients with elevated AFP level (20-1000 microg/L), 79 diagnosed as with HCC and 53 with benign liver diseases (35 with liver cirrhosis and 18 with chronic hepatitis) underwent ACSC to isolate the fraction of AFP-L3. The contents of AFP and AFP-L3 were detected by micro-particle immunoassay. The ratio of AFP-L3 to total AFP, AFP-L3%, was calculated. Correlation between the abnormally elevated AFP-L3% and HCC was analyzed.

RESULTS

Detection of AFP-L3% using ACSC method was operating friendly. The average value of AFP-L3% in the patients with HCC was 36.4%, significantly higher than those of the patients with benign liver diseases (5.3% respectively, P < 0.01). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of AFP-L3% was 0.807. Taking AFP-L3% > or = 10% as diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity of AFP-L3% in HCC diagnosis was 84.8% (67/79) and the specificity was 92.5% (49/53), with a total conformity rate of 87.9% compared to the confirmed clinical diagnosis. Conclusion ACSC is of clinical value in detecting AFP-L3. AFP-L3% is a valuable biomarker in diagnosis and prediction of prognosis of HCC.