Open Access

Highly sensitive Lens culinaris agglutinin‑reactive fraction of α‑fetoprotein is a predictive marker for hepatocarcinogenesis in long‑term observation of patients with chronic liver disease

  • Authors:
    • Kazuaki Tabu
    • Seiichi Mawatari
    • Kohei Oda
    • Ohki Taniyama
    • Ai Toyodome
    • Sho Ijuin
    • Haruka Sakae
    • Kotaro Kumagai
    • Shuji Kanmura
    • Akio Ido
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  • Published online on: June 29, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2336
  • Article Number: 174
  • Copyright: © Tabu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Highly sensitive Lens culinaris agglutinin‑reactive fraction of α‑fetoprotein (hs‑AFP‑L3) is a specific marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has been reliable in cases with a low serum α‑fetoprotein (AFP) level. However, the biomarkers that contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis during the long‑term observation are not yet clear. The present study reported the clinical utility of hs‑AFP‑L3 in the long‑term observation of patients with chronic liver disease. The subjects were 106 patients with chronic liver disease without HCC or a history of HCC treatment and who had been followed for >12 months. hs‑AFP‑L3 was measured using cryopreserved serum. The factors contributing to hepatocarcinogenesis were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses. The median observation period was 88 months (15‑132 months). The cumulative incidence of HCC was 10.5% at 5 years and 19.6% at 10 years. The univariate analysis revealed that age ≥55 years old, platelet count ≤13.1x104/µl, hyaluronic acid ≥80.8 ng/ml, alanine transaminase ≥47 U/l, AFP ≥6.3 ng/ml, hs‑AFP‑L3 ≥3.5% and des‑γ‑carboxy prothrombin (DCP) ≥25 mAU/ml were significant factors. In the multivariate analysis, platelet count ≤13.1x104/µl [hazard ratio (HR), 4.966; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.597‑15.437; P=0.006] and hs‑AFP‑L3 ≥3.5% (HR, 5.450; 95% CI, 1.522‑19.512; P=0.009) were extracted as significant factors contributing to hepatocarcinogenesis. In addition, for cases with AFP <20 ng/ml, a multivariate analysis revealed that hs‑AFP‑L3 ≥4.9% (HR, 11.608; 95% CI, 2.422‑55.629; P=0.002) and DCP ≥25 mAU/ml (HR, 3.936; 95% CI, 1.088‑14.231; P=0.037) were significant factors contributing to hepatocarcinogenesis. hs‑AFP‑L3 is a useful marker for predicting hepatocarcinogenesis in the long‑term observation of patients with chronic liver disease.
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September-2021
Volume 15 Issue 3

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Spandidos Publications style
Tabu K, Mawatari S, Oda K, Taniyama O, Toyodome A, Ijuin S, Sakae H, Kumagai K, Kanmura S, Ido A, Ido A, et al: Highly sensitive <em>Lens culinaris</em> agglutinin‑reactive fraction of α‑fetoprotein is a predictive marker for hepatocarcinogenesis in long‑term observation of patients with chronic liver disease. Mol Clin Oncol 15: 174, 2021.
APA
Tabu, K., Mawatari, S., Oda, K., Taniyama, O., Toyodome, A., Ijuin, S. ... Ido, A. (2021). Highly sensitive <em>Lens culinaris</em> agglutinin‑reactive fraction of α‑fetoprotein is a predictive marker for hepatocarcinogenesis in long‑term observation of patients with chronic liver disease. Molecular and Clinical Oncology, 15, 174. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2336
MLA
Tabu, K., Mawatari, S., Oda, K., Taniyama, O., Toyodome, A., Ijuin, S., Sakae, H., Kumagai, K., Kanmura, S., Ido, A."Highly sensitive <em>Lens culinaris</em> agglutinin‑reactive fraction of α‑fetoprotein is a predictive marker for hepatocarcinogenesis in long‑term observation of patients with chronic liver disease". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 15.3 (2021): 174.
Chicago
Tabu, K., Mawatari, S., Oda, K., Taniyama, O., Toyodome, A., Ijuin, S., Sakae, H., Kumagai, K., Kanmura, S., Ido, A."Highly sensitive <em>Lens culinaris</em> agglutinin‑reactive fraction of α‑fetoprotein is a predictive marker for hepatocarcinogenesis in long‑term observation of patients with chronic liver disease". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 15, no. 3 (2021): 174. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2336