Current biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma: Surveillance, diagnosis and prediction of prognosis

Table 1 Diagnostic performance of alpha-fetoprotein serum levels in selected studies

Ref.	Year	n	Comparator	Cut-off-level	Sensitivity	Specificity	AUC
Marrero et al[20]	2009	836 total (419 HCC)	Liver cirrhosis	20 ng/mL	59%	90%	0.8
Mao et al[21]	2010	4217 total (789 HCC)	Amongst others healthy controls, HBV carriers, liver cirrhosis	35 ng/mL	58.20%	85.30%
Farinati et al[22]	2006	1158 HCC	No control	400 ng/mL	18%		0.59
Lok et al[23]	2010	39 HCC, 77 matched controls	Hepatitis C	20 ng/mL	61%	81%	0.79

AUC: Area under the cure; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma.