The predictive value of recurrence and metastasis by combined assessment of AFP, GGT and AFU for patients with HCC after radical resection

Objective To explore the predictive value of recurrence and metastasis value by com-bined assessment of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alpha-L-fucosidse (AFU) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after radical resection. Methods Eighty pa-tients with HCC after radical resection from December 2005 to December 2007 were enrolled in this study.The data of preoperative and postoperative AFP, GGT and AFU levels, tumor recurrence and metastasis rate and one-year disease free survival (DFS) of the patients were analyzed. The relations between each marker (AFP, GGT and AFU) or their combination with tumor recurrence and metastasis rate and one-year DFS were studied. Results The postoperative positive rate of AFP, GGT and AFU was 25.0%,51.2% and 28.6% respectively. The recurrence and metastasis rate postoperation in the groups positive for AFP,GGT and AFU was 75.0%,73.2% and 87.0% respectively, and the one-year DFS was 45.0%,36.6% and 13.0% respectively,while that in the groups negative for AFP,GGT and AFU was 38.3%,20.5% and 31.6% respectively,and the one-year DFS was 75.0%, 94.9% and 89.5%,respectively. Recurrence and metastasis occurred in all cases positive for AFP,GGT and AFU,and the one-year DFS was 0,whereas af-ter surgery that in the cases negative for AFP,GGT and AFU accounted for only 17.6%,and the one-year DES was 97.1%. Condusion The levels of GGT, AFU and AFP after radical resection were related to the tumor recurrence and metastasis. The combined evaluation of these three markers may be more helpful to increase the positive rate of predicting recurrence and metastasis of HCC patients than the marker alone. Key words: Carcinoma, hepatocellular;  Alpha-fetoprotein;  Gamma-glutamyl transferase; alpha-L-fucosidse;  Metastasis