Clinical Oncology Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Hepato-gastroenterology and Endemic Medicine Department, Student's Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2024 Sep 1;25(9):3097-3104. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.9.3097.
A highly accurate diagnostic method is crucial to reduce mortality and increase hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) survival. Current biomarkers have limited accuracy, and novel ones are needed. Fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF-19) is overexpressed in HCC. This study aimed to assess FGF-19 as a potential novel diagnostic biomarker for HCC.
This case-control study involved 114 individuals divided into three equal groups: HCC (n=38), Cirrhosis (n=38), and Control (n=38). HCC biomarkers included alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), and FGF-19.
The three markers, FGF-19, DCP, and AFP, were significantly different between the three groups, except that DCP was comparable between HCC and Cirrhosis groups (p=1.000). All individuals in the control group had FGF-19 levels below the minimum level in the HCC group. Thus, FGF-19 had 100% sensitivity and specificity in differentiating HCC from healthy controls. FGF-19 can discriminate between HCC and Cirrhosis groups at a 140.8 pg/mL cutoff with sensitivity and specificity of 81.8% and 87.9%, respectively. The sensitivity of FGF-19 was higher than AFP, trending toward statistical significance (p=0.095). Combining FGF-19 with AFP, DCP, or both improved sensitivity but decreased specificity.
FGF-19 is a possible noninvasive serum biomarker for HCC. Its combination with AFP or DCP improves the sensitivity for detecting HCC.
准确的诊断方法对于降低死亡率和提高肝细胞癌（HCC）生存率至关重要。目前的生物标志物准确性有限，需要新的生物标志物。成纤维细胞生长因子 19（FGF-19）在 HCC 中过度表达。本研究旨在评估 FGF-19 作为 HCC 的潜在新型诊断生物标志物。
本病例对照研究纳入了 114 名患者，分为三组：HCC（n=38）、肝硬化（n=38）和对照组（n=38）。HCC 生物标志物包括甲胎蛋白（AFP）、脱γ-羧基凝血酶原（DCP）和 FGF-19。
除 DCP 在 HCC 组和肝硬化组之间无差异（p=1.000）外，三组标志物 FGF-19、DCP 和 AFP 之间存在显著差异。对照组所有个体的 FGF-19 水平均低于 HCC 组的最低水平。因此，FGF-19 在区分 HCC 与健康对照方面具有 100%的敏感性和特异性。FGF-19 可以在 140.8pg/mL 截定点区分 HCC 和肝硬化组，敏感性和特异性分别为 81.8%和 87.9%。FGF-19 的敏感性高于 AFP，但差异无统计学意义（p=0.095）。将 FGF-19 与 AFP、DCP 或两者结合使用可提高敏感性，但降低了特异性。
FGF-19 是一种可能的 HCC 非侵入性血清生物标志物。它与 AFP 或 DCP 的联合应用可提高 HCC 的检测敏感性。
