What are the serological examination indicators for liver cancer?

Serological examination is a routine examination for liver cancer, and its examination indicators include the following aspects.

Isoferritin (AIF): Isoferritin is of certain significance in the diagnosis of liver cancer because the synthesis of liver cancer cells increases and the release rate accelerates. The normal value is 16μg/L to 210μg/L, and 300μg/L is the diagnostic threshold. 72.1% of liver cancer patients exceed this value, and the false positive rate is 10.3%. The positive rate of liver cancer with negative or low concentration of AFP is 66.6%, and the positive rate of small liver cancer <5cm is 62.5%.

Alpha-fetoprotein heterogeneity (FucAFP): Currently, the diagnostic value of AFP heterogeneity determined by lentil agglutinin (LCA) affinity cross-immunoautography is high. There are two heterogeneities, namely LCA non-binding type (AFP-NL) and binding type (AFP-RL). Liver cancer contains an average of 49.13±27.20% (0-100%) AFP-NL, and <75% is the diagnostic standard for liver cancer. The positive rate is 86.0%, which decreases as the disease worsens. The AFP-NL of non-cancerous liver disease is 93.30±7.66%, and the false positive rate is 1.6%.

Aldolase isoenzyme A (ALD-A): When ALD-A appears and increases to >800ng/ml in liver cancer, it is helpful for diagnosis. The positive rate of AFP-negative liver cancer is 73.6%.

Serum fucosidase (AFu): AFu belongs to the lysosomal acid hydrolase class, and its main physiological function is to participate in the degradation and metabolism of bioactive macromolecules such as fucosylated glycoproteins and glycolipids. Primary liver cancer should be considered when AFu exceeds 110Kat/L. Domestic reports show that the positive rate of AFu in diagnosing primary liver cancer is 81.2%, and the positive rates for AFP-negative liver cancer and small liver cancer are 76.1% and 70.8% respectively. Secondary liver cancer and benign liver space-occupying lesions are negative, but the false positive rate of cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis is high.

In summary, the above liver cancer markers have auxiliary significance in the diagnosis of primary liver cancer, especially AFP-negative cases.