肝细胞癌生物标志物的研究进展

An antibody microarray assay for screening serum biomarkers for liver cancer

AIM: To develop an antibody microarray assay for screening serum biomarkers for liver cancer.

METHODS: Antibody microarrays targeting 14 potential liver cancer biomarkers were prepared on aldehyde-coated glass slides. The prepared antibody microarrays were incubated with NHS-biotin-labeled serum samples and visualized with streptavidin-Cy3 fluorescent dye. The serum expression levels of 14 biomarkers were then compared between 44 liver cancer patients and 46 healthy individuals.

RESULTS: The accuracy and reproducibility of data from the developed antibody microarray assay were satisfactory. The serum expression levels of HSP70, CK19, GPC3, PTMA, AFU, GP73, HBxAg and CA125 differed significantly between liver cancer patients and healthy individuals (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: An effective antibody microarray assay for screening serum biomarkers for liver cancer has been successfully developed.

Differential diagnosis of primary hepatic carcinoma by detecting serum alpha-fetoprotein, tumor-associated substances and carcinoembryonic antigen

AIM: To investigate the value of combined detection of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), tumor-associated substances (TSGF) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the diagnosis of primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC).

METHODS: Serum samples from 100 patients with primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC group), 100 patients with benign liver disease (benign liver disease group) and 100 healthy individuals (control group) were used to detect the contents of AFP, TSGF and CEA by electrochemical luminescence immunoassay and biochemical colorimetric assay.

RESULTS: In the PHC group, the positive rate of combined detection of AFP, TSGF and CEA was 95%, significantly higher than those of detection of AFP (70%), TSGF (61%) or CEA (57%) alone (all P < 0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the combined detection method were significantly higher than those of detection of a single tumor marker (all P < 0.05). After treatment, serum levels of AFP, TSGF and CEA significantly declined in PHC patients when compared with pre-treatment values (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Combined detection of AFP, TSGF and CEA can not only improve the diagnosis of PHC, especially in AFP-negative patients, but also help make a differential diagnosis between benign and malignant liver tumors.