α-Fetoprotein, α-Fetoprotein-L3, and Des-γ-Carboxy Prothrombin Stratify Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment Response and Progression Risk.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Assessing aggressive biology at early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis remains challenging. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the only clinical biomarker of aggressive HCC. In this study, AFP, Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive AFP (AFP-L3), and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) were measured at diagnosis prior to transplant evaluation and first cycle liver-directed therapy (LDT).

Methods

The prospective cohort included 207 patients who received LDT as a bridge/downstage to transplant or definitive treatment plan between 2016 and 2022. Plasma AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP levels were measured at diagnosis and analyzed with other factors associated with treatment response and time-to-progression.

Results

Biomarker phenotyping revealed 41% were tr

SUBMITTER: Nunez K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11308544 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature