Predictive value of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Here we assessed the predictive value of gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) for the prognosis of patients with HCC and compared the γ-GT with other prognostic factors. We retrospectively analyzed outcomes for 858 patients first diagnosed with HCC. Cox univariate and multivariate analyses receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used for the study of significance of prognostic factor. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to assess the value of γ-GT as an HCC prognostic factor in different classifications of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) or Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) and different levels of serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP). We showed patient survival rates were significantly associated with γ-GT as well as serum biological markers including absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), AFP. A γ-GT ≥ 75 U/L strongly indicated poor prognosis for HCC patients. The survival time of patients with γ-GT ≥ 75 U/L was significantly shorter in advanced BCLC and TNM stages and at any serum AFP level. All these results suggested that baseline γ-GT could effectively aid in determining the prognosis of patients with HCC, and the prognostic value of γ-GT ≥ 75 U/L was superior to that of Child-Pugh class, MELD stage, and serum AFP.

Combination of the gamma-glutamyltransferase-to-prealbumin ratio and other indicators may be a novel marker for predicting the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing locoregional ablative therapies

“…As an almost ubiquitous enzyme, γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) initiates the degradation of extracellular glutathione and is also conjugates and correlates with biotransformation, nucleic acid metabolism, and oncogenesis [5]. Previous studies have shown that high levels of γ-GT are significantly associated with unfavorable prognoses in HCC patients [6, 7]. Prealbumin (PA), which is synthesized by the liver, is a recently identified biomarker indicative of liver synthetic functions and has not been included in the traditional Child-Pugh classification system.…”

<p>Effects of various interventions on the occurrence of macrovascular invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma after the baseline serum &gamma;-glutamyltransferase stratification</p>

“…The γ-GT level, in particular, has critical clinical significance as an indicator of prognosis 33,34. This indicator helps to predict prognosis and helps with the selection of further treatment.…”

Biomarkers of Angiogenesis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Novel Sunshine Road

“…Therefore, as a reflection of the inflamed liver microenvironment in patients with chronic hepatitis [43], γ-GT may be an attractive predictor for the prognosis of HCC patients. In a recent study, the prognostic value of γ-GT ≥ 75 U/L was shown to be higher than that of Child-Pugh staging, MELD and serum AFP [44].…”