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Postoperative detection of α ‐fetoprotein mRNA in blood as a predictor for metastatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Minata Mutsuko,
Nishida Naoshi,
Komeda Toshiki,
Azechi Hidemasa,
Katsuma Hirokazu,
Nishimura Takafumi,
Kuno Masato,
Ito Teruaki,
Yamamoto Yuzo,
Ikai Iwao,
Yamaoka Yoshio,
Fukuda Yoshihiro,
Nakao Kazuwa
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1746.2001.02461.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , perioperative , metastasis , messenger rna , gastroenterology , blood sampling , alpha fetoprotein , carcinoma , oncology , surgery , cancer , gene , biochemistry , chemistry
Background: We tested for the presence of α‐fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA by using nested RT‐PCR in the peripheral blood of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who had undergone curative surgery, and investigated the occurrence of intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic metastasis thereafter, to reveal the optimal timing of blood sampling for the prediction of metastatic recurrence. Methods: Twenty‐nine patients with HCC, who had been operated on were analyzed with RT‐PCR at several points during the clinical course, and examined for metastatic recurrence for 3–28 months (mean = 18.7 months) after surgery. Results: The presence of AFP mRNA before surgery was significantly correlated with the tumor size ( P = 0.017). Metastatic recurrence was associated with the postoperative detection of AFP mRNA ( P < 0.001), but not with the preoperative and/or perioperative detection. Furthermore, AFP mRNA was detected in some cases that showed low serum AFP levels at recurrence. The recurrence‐free period after the detection of AFP mRNA varied from 1 to 12 months. Conclusions: The postoperative detection of AFP mRNA is useful for the prediction of metastatic recurrence, and long‐term follow up with this method should be conducted.