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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2019.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 14, 2019; 25(30): 4199-4212
Published online Aug 14, 2019. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i30.4199
Table 1 The sensitivity and specificity of biomarkers in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma
BiomarkerFull nameSensitivity (%)Specificity (%)Ref.Description
AFPα-fetoprotein6682[9]A glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 70 kDa that transports a variety of molecules, including bilirubin, fatty acids, steroids, and various drugs
6594[107]
AFP-L3AFP-L3 (binding fraction)2897[9]One of the three glycoforms of AFP. AFP-L3 is only derived from cancer cells and has a higher specificity than AFP
3792[108]
DCPDes-γ-carboxyprothrombin7782[23]Prothrombin, Des-γ-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), induced by vitamin K deletion II (PIVKAII), is an abnormal prothrombin molecule that is increased in HCC
6170[9]
GPC3Glypican-355.284.2[11]Glypican-3 (GPC3) belongs to the glypican family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans. GPC3 is involved in cell proliferation, survival and tumor suppression
GP73Golgi protein-736288[9]It is a type II Golgi-specific membrane protein that is normally expressed in epithelial cells of various human tissues, but not in hepatocytes. However, GP73 is detected in the serum of patients with liver disease, especially HCC
OPNOsteopontin7562[99]Also known as transformation-associated protein phosphatase, a glycophosphoprotein that binds to integrin, which is overexpressed in many different types of malignancies, including lung, breast and colon cancers
MDKMidkine92.583.3[109]Midkine is a heparin-binding growth factor, originally identified as a retinoic acid response gene that plays a key role in cell growth, survival, migration, angiogenesis and carcinogenesis
SCCASquamous cell carcinoma antigen56.174.9[110]It is the member of the high molecular weight family of serine protease inhibitors, highly expressed in epithelial tumors, and protects tumor cells from apoptosis
Annexin A283.267.5[111]A calcium-dependent phospholipid binding protein that is present on endothelial cells and on the surface of most epithelial cells. It is up-regulated in many tumor types and has multiple roles in various tumorigenic processes
suPARSoluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor76.090.4[112]A glycophosphatidylinositol-linked membrane protein, a circulating form of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). Recently, suPAR has been established as a biomarker of immune system activation and cancer metastasis level
TRXsThioredoxins74.987.5[113]Thiol oxidoreductase is ubiquitously expressed and involved in several biological processes, such as regulation of protein status, apoptosis and proliferation, and protection against oxidative stress.