Analysis of the optimal patterns of serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP), AFP-L3% and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) detection in the diagnosis of liver cancers.

Background: Liver cancers are common malignancies that primarily include hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Currently, the most commonly used serum markers for HCC are alpha fetoprotein (AFP), AFP-L3% and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II), while the most commonly used serum markers for CCA are carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9). In recent years, many HCC diagnostic models using the combined detection of serum AFP, AFP-L3% and PIVKA-II have been established. For serum AFP, AFP-L3%, PIVKA-II and their many diagnostic models, there has been no clear guidance on the selection of these markers and their various combinations in the diagnosis of liver cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of these markers and the models that incorporate them in diagnosing HCC and CCA. This could assist in identifying the optimal patterns of serum AFP, AFP-L3% and PIVKA-II for the diagnosis of liver cancers.

Methods: Clinical data and the results of serum AFP, AFP-L3%, PIVKA-II, CEA and CA19-9 were collected from 117 patients with HCC, 28 patients with CCA and 101 patients with benign liver diseases. Laboratory tests and detection of serum tumor markers in liver cancer patients were conducted prior to treatments. Recently published diagnostic models for AFP, AFP-L3% and PIVKA-II detection were collected; these included GALAD, ASAP, GALAD-C, GAAP, C-GALAD, C-GALAD II and GAP-TALAD.

Results: Levels of AFP-L3%, PIVKA-II, GALAD, ASAP, GALAD-C, GAAP, C-GALAD and C-GALAD II significantly differed between the patient cohorts, with the highest levels seen in HCC, followed by CCA and with the lowest levels seen in benign liver diseases ( < 0.05). Levels of CEA and CA19-9 significantly differed between cohorts, with the highest levels seen in CCA, followed by HCC and with the lowest levels seen in benign liver diseases ( < 0.05). Levels of AFP and GAP-TALAD in HCC patients were significantly higher than those in patients with CCA and patients with benign liver diseases ( < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in levels of AFP and GAP-TALAD between patients with CCA and benign liver diseases ( > 0.05). In the diagnosis of HCC, GAP-TALAD, GALAD, C-GALAD, ASAP and GALAD-C showed the highest efficacy. In the diagnosis of overall liver cancers (HCC and CCA), GALAD-C, GAAP, GALAD, ASAP and C-GALAD showed the highest efficacy. In the diagnosis of early liver cancers (early HCC and CCA), GALAD, GALAD-C, GAAP, C-GALAD and ASAP showed the highest efficacy.

Conclusions: For serum AFP, AFP-L3% and PIVKA-II, diagnostic models of combined marker detection improved efficacy in the diagnosis of liver cancers. Diagnostic models GALAD, ASAP, GALAD-C and C-GALAD showed the highest efficacy in the diagnosis of HCC, overall liver cancers (HCC + CCA) and early liver cancers, and can be used preferentially in clinical practice.