Asrih M, Lenglet S, Mach F, Montecucco F. Alpha-fetoprotein: A controversial prognostic biomarker for small hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2013; 19(3): 328-330 [PMID: 23372353 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i3.328]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Dr. Fabrizio Montecucco, MD, PhD, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Foundation for Medical Researches, 64 Avenue Roseraie, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. fabrizio.montecucco@unige.ch
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Field Of Vision
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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2013; 19(3): 328-330 Published online Jan 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i3.328
Alpha-fetoprotein: A controversial prognostic biomarker for small hepatocellular carcinoma
Mohamed Asrih, Sébastien Lenglet, François Mach, Fabrizio Montecucco
Mohamed Asrih, Sébastien Lenglet, François Mach, Fabrizio Montecucco, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Foundation for Medical Research, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Fabrizio Montecucco, Clinic of Internal Medicine 1, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy
Author contributions: Asrih M and Montecucco F wrote the paper; Lenglet S, Mach F and Montecucco F approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by The Swiss National Science Foundation, No. 32003B-134963/1, to Dr. Montecucco F; EU FP7 AtheroRemo, No. 201668; and Swiss National Science Foundation, No. 310030B-133127, to Dr. Mach F
Correspondence to: Dr. Fabrizio Montecucco, MD, PhD, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Foundation for Medical Researches, 64 Avenue Roseraie, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. fabrizio.montecucco@unige.ch
Telephone: +41-22-3827238 Fax: +41-22-3827245
Received: October 15, 2012 Revised: November 23, 2012 Accepted: December 20, 2012 Published online: January 21, 2013 Processing time: 98 Days and 0.8 Hours
Abstract
The assessment of the prognosis in patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma represents a hot-topic issue that requires further improvements and clarifications. The life expectancy of the patients has been shown to depend on several clinical and histological parameters (such as patient’s general conditions, macroscopic tumor morphology and histopathology). Recently, the prognostic role of some biomarkers [i.e., alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)] has been also investigated with controversial findings mainly on the assessment of patient survival. The study by Giannini et al failed to show a prognostic value of AFP on survival of patients with well-compensated cirrhosis and small hepatocellular carcinoma. Since the study presents some limitations, a larger clinical trial is needed to clarify the potential prognostic role of serum AFP levels in these patients.
