Assessment of the correlation between serum prolidase and alpha-fetoprotein levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 1 Demographics and clinical variables of the groups

Characteristic	Patients with HCC (n = 68)	Cirrhosis patients (n = 31)	Controls(n = 33)
Age (yr), mean ± SD	69.1 ± 10.1	59.3 ± 6.3	51.4 ± 12.6
Sex% (M/F)	47 (69.1)/21 (30.9)	17 (54.8)/14 (45.2)	16 (48.5)/17 (51.5)
Platelet (× 1000/mm3)	175 (27-413)	88 (45-120)	256 (181-396)
Hb (g/dL)	11.92 ± 1.80	9.2 ± 1.40	12.67 ± 1.63
INR	1.18 (0.10-2.10)	1.10 (0,90-1.60)	-
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	2.0 (0.30-16.90)	1.17 (0.90-3.00)	0.80 (0.30-2.00)
Albumin (g/dL)	3.2 (2-4.6)	3.49 (2.3-4.4)	4.4 (4-5.3)
Prolidase (U/L) median (min-max)	1179 (1080-1600)	913 (811-1011)	880 (816-969)
AFP (ng/mL) median (min-max)	650 (2.5-2300)	14 (2-40)	4.2 (1-16)
Underlying liver disease
HBV	34	11
HCV	18	6
NASH	12	10
Alcohol	4	4

HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Hb: Hemoglobin; AFP: α-fetoprotein; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; INR: International normalized ratio; NASH: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Table 2 Serum prolidase and α-fetoprotein levels of different tumor related factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Variables	n = 68	AFP (ng/L) median (min-max)	P value	Prolidase (U/L) median (min-max)	P value
Tumor size (cm)
≤ 3	19	440 (2.5-2000)	0.032	1120 (1080-1250)	< 0.001
3-5	12	548 (45-1740)		1178 (1123-1260)
≥ 5	37	850 (73-2300)		1219 (1113-1600)
Tumor number
1	29	547 (2.5-2248)	0.038	1150 (1080-1310)	0.002
2	13	550 (9-1430)		1142 (1110-1265)
≥ 3	26	1160 (84-2300)		1222 (1120-1600)
Macrovascular invasion
No	59	597 (2.5-2300)	0.502	1174 (1080-1600)	0.575
Yes	9	770 (110-1750)		1208 (1120-1276)
BCLC staging
A	20	470 (2.5-2000)	0.015	1128 (1080-1260)	< 0.001
B	29	862 (78-2300)		1219 (1123-1600)
C	8	867 (110-1645)		1174 (1120-1276)
D	11	615 (73-2050)		1150 (1113-1286)

AFP: Alpha fetoprotein; BCLC: The Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer Group; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma.

Table 3 Comparison of the groups for serum prolidase levels

	Prolidase (U/L) median (min-max)	P value
Patients with HCC(n = 68)	1179 (1080-1600)	< 0.001
Cirrhosis patients(n = 31)	913 (811-1011)	0.067
Controls (n = 33)	880 (816-969)	0.067

HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma.