Relationship of α-fetoprotein levels and development of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis C patients with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

α-fetoprotein (AFP) is a tumor marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has also been reported to reflect the effectiveness of long-term low-dose interferon (IFN) therapy in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients with chronic liver disease. The correlation between AFP levels and the incidence of HCC has been discussed over a long period. We investigated whether high levels of AFP at the time of diagnosis were associated with an increased incidence of HCC in patients with HCV. A total of 107 HCV patients with liver cirrhosis without other risks were evaluated for the predictive value of non-invasive risk factors for HCC, including age, gender, alcohol intake, aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels, bilirubin, albumin, platelet count and AFP levels at study entry, as well as the IFN therapy received. During the follow-up period, HCC developed in 68 (63.6%) patients. Kaplan-Meier estimates were made to assess the cumulative risk of HCC. The 10-year cumulative incidence rate of HCC was 80%. Cox regression analysis was performed on several variables, including age, gender, alcohol consumption, experience of IFN therapy and biochemical parameters. The following factors were identified as exhibiting an increased risk of HCC by univariate analysis: aspartate transaminase (AST) ≥71 IU/l, alanine transaminase (ALT) ≥60 IU/l, AFP ≥6 ng/ml and IFN therapy. Multivariate analysis identified that the AFP level [6–19 ng/ml: hazard ratio (HR), 2.22; P=0.006 and ≥20 ng/ml: HR, 2.09; P=0.003] was an independent and significant risk factor for the development of HCC. A slightly elevated (6–19 ng/ml) AFP level may be a risk factor for HCC in certain cases. By contrast, AFP levels <6 ng/ml indicate a low risk of HCC development in HCV patients with liver cirrhosis.

Serum Inducible Protein -10 chemokine as a biomarker for clearance of HCV with and without treatment in Egyptian patients

“…and disagree with [16] who reported that IP10 levels significantly decrease in patients reaching SVR compered with non responders suggesting that decline of this chemockine could be an indicator of disruption of interahepatic virus -host interaction .and this attributed to DAAs persuade rapid decrease in HCV replication with a consequent reduction of IP10 plasma level. Moreover, the present data showed negative correlation between IP1 0 plasma level and AFP .And this disagree with [28] and this attributed to his patients grade were cirrhosis and our patients are chronic and non responder and didn't reach to cirrhosis state where (AFP) is a tumor marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [33] .Also slight raises of AFP can be seen in benign liver diseases such as virus related acute and chronic hepatitis [34] .…”

Synthesis of xanthone derivatives and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma potency evaluation: induced apoptosis

“…1 About 75–85% of patients with primary liver cancer have hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 2 The incidence of liver cancer in Asian countries, especially in East and Southeast Asia, remains the highest in the world. Nowadays, surgical resection, orthotopic liver transplantation, and local ablative therapies are considered potentially curative for early-stage HCC patients.…”

New Insights Into the Relationships Among Alcohol Consumption, Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Hepatitis C Virus Infection

“…The HCV remains a major health problem, and the prevalence of this virus varies from 1% to 10% (approximately 180 million people) worldwide (4). The HCV has a high propensity to cause lifelong, persistent infections that can progress to significant liver disease (3,5). It is estimated that 2% of the world's population is infected with HCV, which can cause acute and chronic liver diseases, resulting in a large variety of symptoms, (6) and it is the cause of related morbidity and mortality (7).…”