Published online Sep 15, 1996. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v2.i3.165
Revised: July 29, 1996
Accepted: August 7, 1996
Published online: September 15, 1996
AIM: To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and clinical value of hepatic carcinoma associated membrane protein antigen (HAg18a21) as a reagent in a serum quick enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHCC).
METHODS: A serum quick enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) which uses HAg18a21 as a reagent, was prepared from monoclonal antibodies against human hepatic carcinoma. We assayed blood serum obtained from 100 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHCC), 5 cases of hepatic biliary carcinoma (HBC), 10 cases of metastatic hepatic carcinoma (MHC), 20 cases of hepatitis B (HB), 20 cases of liver cirrhosis (LC), 20 cases of malignant gastrointestinal tumors, and 20 cases of inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases (including ulcers). Alpha 2 fetoprotein (AFP) was concurrently detected for each case. Twenty samples of blood bank serum were tested as controls.
RESULTS: The respective positive rates for the HAg18a21 ELISA assay and AFP detection assay were 81% and 68% in PHCC, 20% and 40% in HBC, 19% and 20% in MHC, 10% and 20% in BH, 10% and 20% in LC, 10% and 15% in malignant gastrointestinal tumors, and 5% and 10% in inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases. Neither assay showed a positive result for any tested blood bank sample.
CONCLUSION: The HAg18a21 ELISA demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of PHCC. HAg18a21 ELISA and AFP detection, if used together, may compliment each other in the diagnosis of PHCC.