EVALUATION OF OSTEOPONTIN AND ALFA L-FUCOSIDASE AS DIAGNOSTIC MARKERS OF HEPATOCELLULARCARCINOMA

Introduction: Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is not secreted in all cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it may be normalin 40% of patients. Alpha-L-fucosidase (AFU) and osteopontin (OPN) have been suggested as tumor markers of HCC. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic values of AFU & OPNas tumor markers of HCC in hepatitis C virus patients. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 60 patients (25 patients with HCC, 20 patients with chronic hepatitis and 20 patients with cirrhosis) in addition to 20 apparently healthy individuals who served as a healthy control group. Results: AFP,OPN and AFU levels were significantly higher in the HCC group compared to chronic hepatitis , liver cirrhosis and healthy control groups (p < 0.001 in each) and in liver cirrhosis compared to the control group (p< 0.01,p<0.001,p<0.001) respectively. There was statistically significant increased in AFU level in the liver cirrhosis compared to chronic hepatitis group (p< 0.001) ,while there was no significant difference between both groups as regard to AFP and OPN ( p >0.05). In patients with HCC AFP level was significantly higher in TNM stage III than TNM stage II (P <0.001) .The AFP sensitivity was 75 %, OPN sensitivity was 75% and AFU sensitivity was 70%. Combined use of OPN, AFP produced 80% sensitivity while combined use of AFU, AFP produced 90% sensitivity. Combined use of OPN, AFP and AFU produced 100% sensitivity. Conclusion: Combined detection of OPN and AFU activity may be used as diagnostic markers for the diagnosis of HCC .Combined detection of AFU, OPN and AFP could improve early diagnosis of HCC and differentiate it from chronic liver disease.