The Characteristics and Prognosis of Alpha-Fetoprotein and Des-Gamma-Carboxy Prothrombin Double-Negative Hepatocellular Carcinoma at Baseline in Higher BCLC Stages

Takakazu Nagahara; Takaaki Sugihara; Takuya Kihara; Suguru Ikeda; Yoshiki Hoshino; Yukako Matsuki; Takuki Sakaguchi; Hiroki Kurumi; Takumi Onoyama; Tomoaki Takata; Tomomitsu Matono; Naoyuki Yamaguchi; Hajime Isomoto

doi:10.3390/cancers15020390

Cancers (Jan 2023)

The Characteristics and Prognosis of Alpha-Fetoprotein and Des-Gamma-Carboxy Prothrombin Double-Negative Hepatocellular Carcinoma at Baseline in Higher BCLC Stages

Takakazu Nagahara,
Takaaki Sugihara,
Takuya Kihara,
Suguru Ikeda,
Yoshiki Hoshino,
Yukako Matsuki,
Takuki Sakaguchi,
Hiroki Kurumi,
Takumi Onoyama,
Tomoaki Takata,
Tomomitsu Matono,
Naoyuki Yamaguchi,
Hajime Isomoto

Affiliations

Takakazu Nagahara: Division of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Takaaki Sugihara: Division of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Takuya Kihara: Division of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Suguru Ikeda: Division of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Yoshiki Hoshino: Division of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Yukako Matsuki: Division of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Takuki Sakaguchi: Division of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Hiroki Kurumi: Division of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Takumi Onoyama: Division of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Tomoaki Takata: Division of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Tomomitsu Matono: Department of Gastroenterology, St. Mary’s Hospital, Himeji 670-0801, Japan
Naoyuki Yamaguchi: Department of Endoscopy, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki 850-8501, Japan
Hajime Isomoto: Division of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15020390
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 2
p. 390

Abstract

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Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) are widely used as tumor markers to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Some advanced HCCs demonstrate neither AFP nor DCP. This study investigated the characteristics and prognosis of AFP (p = 0.026). The median maximum tumor diameter was smaller in DNHC [3.2 (1.8–5.0) vs. 5.5 (3.5–9.0) cm, p = 0.001] and their median survival time was significantly better, even in higher-stage HCC [47.0 (24.0–84.0) vs. 19.0 (14.0–30.0) months, p = 0.027). DNHC in higher-BCLC stage HCC is independent of BCLC staging, characterized by a tumor diameter < 5 cm, and is treatable with a good prognosis.

Published in Cancers

ISSN: 2072-6694 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cancers/

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