HCC Biomarkers

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the most important type of liver cancer. Presently in Europe more than 30.000 persons are dying annually due to HCC with an upward trend in incidence. Early recognition of this neoplasm is crucial to enable curative treatments. Patients at high risk of developing HCC undergo surveillance programs with abdominal ultrasound investigations and determinations of a-fetoprotein (AFP) twice per year. High sensitive AFP-L3% and DCP measurements by the µTASWako^TM i30 instrument can specifically detect most AFP negative primary liver tumours.  

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AFP-L3% Test

AFP-L3 is a glycosylated variant of AFP which has an additional a 1-6 fucose residue attached at the carbohydrate chain. The AFP-L3% Test measures the ratio of AFP-L3 to (total) AFP. The test shows a superior specificity for HCC. Its new high sensitive determination improves early diagnosis, assessment of therapeutic effects and prognosis prediction of HCC and can be complemented with DCP.

To find more information, click here to visit the AFP-L3% Test page.

DCP Test

Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) also known as “protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II” (PIVKA II) is an immature form of prothrombin. Several glutamic-acid residues in DCP are kept in a decarboxylated state. In the case of HCC the concentration of this molecule is typically elevated and therefore a useful biomarker for this disease. This test can used for early diagnosis, assessment of therapeutic effects and for prognosis or prediction of HCC and can be complemented with AFP-L3%.

To find more information, click here to visit the DCP Test page.

µTASWako^TM i30

The measurement of AFP-L3% and DCP is carried out fully-automated by Wako’s µTASWako^TM i30 (micro total analysis system) instrument using microchip technology. Immunocomplexes are formed in microchannels in liquid-phase. Separation of bound and unbound complexes occurs in the same channels by capillary gel electrophoresis due to different migration speeds. Unprecedented analytical sensitivity for these two HCC biomarkers is achieved.

To find more information, click here to visit the µTASWako^TM i30 page.