Golgi protein 73 (GOLPH2) is a valuable serum marker for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary Medicine
• Oncology Biomarkers
• Diagnostic Accuracy Studies

Background:

• Golgi protein 73 (GP73) is a potential serum marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• Previous validation in large cohorts and its role in post-resection recurrence assessment were lacking.
• This study aimed to evaluate GP73's diagnostic value for HCC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the diagnostic accuracy of serum GP73 for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• To compare the efficacy of GP73 with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in HCC detection.
• To assess GP73's utility in monitoring tumor recurrence after HCC resection.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter study involving 4217 subjects: healthy adults, HBV carriers, cirrhosis patients, HCC patients, other liver lesions, and non-liver cancer patients.
• Serum GP73 and AFP levels were measured and compared.
• Sensitivity and specificity of GP73 and AFP for HCC diagnosis were calculated.

Main Results:

• Serum GP73 demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity (74.6%) and specificity (97.4%) for HCC detection compared to AFP (58.2% sensitivity, 85.3% specificity).
• GP73 levels were significantly elevated in HCC patients versus healthy controls, HBV carriers, and cirrhosis patients.
• GP73 levels decreased post-HCC resection and increased with tumor recurrence, showing potential for monitoring.

Conclusions:

• Serum GP73 is a highly accurate biomarker for detecting HCC, outperforming AFP.
• GP73 effectively aids in identifying HCC recurrence after surgical treatment.
• Clinical implementation of serum GP73 measurement is recommended for standard HCC testing.