Clinical values of AFP, GPC3 mRNA in peripheral blood for prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence following OLT

authors:

avatar Yuliang Wang 1 , * , avatar Zhongyang Shen 2 , avatar Zhijun Zhu 2 , avatar Ruifa Han 2 , avatar Mingsheng Huai 2

Orient Organ Transplant Center, First Central Clinic Institute of Tianjin Medical University, Key Lab for Critical Care Medicine of the Ministry of Health, shenzy@ootc.net, China
Orient Organ Transplant Center, First Central Clinic Institute of Tianjin Medical University, Key Lab for Critical Care Medicine of the Ministry of Health, China
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.11, issue 3; 195-199
article type: Research Article
received: July 19, 2010
accepted: December 18, 2010

how to cite: Wang Y, Shen Z, Zhu Z, Han R, Huai M. Clinical values of AFP, GPC3 mRNA in peripheral blood for prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence following OLT. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(3): 195-199. 

Abstract

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Annually, about 200,000 patients died of HCC in China. Liver transplantation (LT) holds great theoretical appeal in treating HCC. However, the high recurrence rate after transplantation is the most important limiting factor for long-term survival.
Objectives: To assess the value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) messenger RNA (mRNA), Glypican-3 (GPC3) mRNA-expressing cells in the peripheral blood (PB) for prediction of HCC recurrence following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).
Patients and Methods: 29 patients with HCC who underwent OLT with a minimum clinical follow-up of 12 months were included in this retrospective study. We detected AFP mRNA, GPC3 mRNA-expressing cells in the PB by TaqMan real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), pre-, intra- and post-operatively. The early recurrence of patients was evaluated.
Results: 8 (28%), 15 (52%), and 9 (31%) patients had AFP mRNA detected pre-, intra-, and post-operatively, respectively. With 12 months of follow-up, HCC recurred in 7 (24%) patients. Univariate analysis revealed that positive pre- and post-operative AFP mRNA, TNM stage as well as vascular invasion were significant predictors for the HCC recurrence. Multivariate analysis revealed that being positive for AFP mRNA pre-operatively remained a significant risk factor for HCC recurrence after OLT. GPC3 mRNA was expressed in all PB samples. There was no significant difference in the expression levels of GPC3 mRNA between the HCC and control groups. There were no significant differences in GPC3 mRNA expression values between those patients with and without tumor recurrence.
Conclusions: The pre-operative detection of circulating AFP mRNA-expressing cells could be a useful predictor for HCC recurrence following OLT. GPC3 mRNA-expressing cells in PB seem to have no diagnostic value.

 

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
We suggest reading this interesting article to internists, gatsroenterologists, hepatologists and infectious diseases specialists with regard to early diagnosis of HCC post liver transplantation.

 

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
We suggest reading this interesting article to internists, gatsroenterologists, hepatologists and infectious diseases specialists with regard to early diagnosis of HCC post liver transplantation.  

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