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Alpha-Fetoprotein as a Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Focus on Its Role in Composition of Tumor Staging Systems and Monitoring of Treatment Response

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Book cover Biomarkers in Liver Disease

Abstract

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) remains the most commonly used biomarker during the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). AFP is a glycoprotein that is elevated in the serum of approximately 70% of patients with HCC. Over the past five decades, AFP has been extensively studied about its role in diagnosis and surveillance of HCC. In this book chapter, the focus is put on the role of serum AFP in the composition of tumor staging systems and monitoring of treatment response for clinical uses in HCC.

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Abbreviations

AASLD:

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

AFP:

Alpha-fetoprotein

ALBI:

Albumin-bilirubin

AUC:

Area under curve

CLIP:

Cancer of the Liver Italian Program

CUPI:

Chinese University Prognostic Index

DCP:

Des-carboxy prothrombin

EASL:

European Association for the Study of the Liver

GRETCH:

Groupe d’Etude et de Traitement du Carcinome Hepatocellulaire

HBV:

Hepatitis B virus

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

HCV:

Hepatitis C virus

MELD:

Model for end-stage liver disease

MESIAH:

Model to estimate survival in ambulatory HCC patients

PIVKA-II:

Prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence-II

TACE:

Transarterial chemoembolization

ULN:

Upper limit of normal

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong

    Stephen L. Chan

  2. Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong

    Anthony W. H. Chan

  3. Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong

    Simon C. H. Yu

Authors
  1. Stephen L. Chan
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  2. Anthony W. H. Chan
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  3. Simon C. H. Yu
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Stephen L. Chan , Anthony W. H. Chan or Simon C. H. Yu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Research Division, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

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Chan, S.L., Chan, A.W.H., Yu, S.C.H. (2017). Alpha-Fetoprotein as a Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Focus on Its Role in Composition of Tumor Staging Systems and Monitoring of Treatment Response. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V. (eds) Biomarkers in Liver Disease. Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7675-3_41

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