Alpha-fetoprotein has no prognostic role in small hepatocellular carcinoma identified during surveillance in compensated cirrhosis

• DOI: 10.1002/hep.25814
• Publication Date: 2012-04-26T10:46:37Z
• Authors: Edoardo G. Giannini; Simona Marenco; Giacomo Borgonovo; Vincenzo Savarino; Fabio Farinati; Paolo Del Poggio; Gian Ludovico Rap...; Maria Anna Di Nolfo; Luisa Benvegnù; Marco Zoli; Franco Borzio; Eugenio Caturelli; Maria Chiaramonte; Franco Trevisani
• Keywords: Alpha-fetoprotein; Percutaneous ethanol injection; Oncofetal antigen; Liver Cancer

Alpha-fetoprotein is a tumor marker that has been used for surveillance and diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis. The prognostic capability this HCC not clearly defined. In study our aim was to evaluate the usefulness serum alpha-fetoprotein well-compensated cirrhosis, optimal performance status, small identified during periodic ultrasound who were treated curative intent. Among 3,027 included Italian Liver Cancer group database, we selected 205 Child-Pugh class A Eastern Cooperative Group Performance Status 0 cirrhosis single ≤ 3 cm diameter diagnosed intent (hepatic resection, liver transplantation, percutaneous ethanol injection, radiofrequency thermal ablation). Patients subdivided according levels (i.e., normal 20 ng/mL; mildly elevated 21-200 markedly >200 ng/mL). Patient survival, as assessed by Kaplan-Meier method, significantly different among three classes (P = 0.493). same result obtained subgroup 2 0.714). An level 100 ng/mL receiver operating characteristic curve had inadequate accuracy (area under 0.536, 95% confidence interval 0.465-0.606) discriminate between survivors deceased patients.Alpha-fetoprotein have no meaning single,