Prognostic value of alpha-fetoprotein and des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with...

This study aimed to explore the efficacy and prognostic value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment.

Relationships between the baseline levels of AFP and DCP and the clinical characteristics of 314 patients with HCC who underwent TACE were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models were used to analyze the survival data.

Before TACE, the patient distribution was as follows: 180 were positive for both AFP and DCP, 37 were negative for both, 24 were positive for AFP only, and 73 were positive for DCP only. Of the 131 patients included in the follow-up study after TACE treatment, 47 (35.88%) belonged to the AFP and DCP double-response group, 38 (29.01%) to the single-response group, and 46 (35.11%) to the no-response group. The overall objective response rate was significantly higher in the double- and single-response groups than in the no-response group (P < 0.001). The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates in the double-response group were significantly longer than those in the other two groups (P < 0.001). The response types of AFP and DCP were independent risk factors for PFS (P = 0.003) and OS (P = 0.007).

The combination of AFP and DCP provides a valuable serum biomarker for assessing the efficacy of TACE in patients with HCC. The goal for TACE treatment in dual-positive patients is to achieve a dual response for AFP and DCP.