DCP and AFP-L3 Are Complementary to AFP in Predicting High-Risk Explant Features: Results of a Prospective Study.

Among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), elevated α-fetoprotein (AFP) has been shown to predict waitlist dropout, high-risk histopathologic features, and inferior post-liver transplant (LT) outcome. Nevertheless, many patients with HCC have a normal AFP and yet still experience waitlist dropout or post-LT recurrence. Because of the degree of imprecision associated with AFP, there is a quest for other biomarkers that may be complementary to or better than AFP in predicting prognosis in LT. Lectin-reactive AFP (AFP-L3) and des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) are biomarkers that have been used in conjunction with AFP as HCC surveillance or diagnostic tools. However, the utility of these biomarkers in LT for HCC is not established.