Significance of alpha-fetoprotein mRNA level in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with radiofrequency ablation

BACKGROUND: Many methods are used to treat liver cancer. Among them, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a hot topic because of its advantages. This study was designed to determine the significance of blood alpha-fetoprotein mRNA (AFPmRNA) changes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hepatobiliary & pancreatic diseases international 2007-04, Vol.6 (2), p.172-175
Main Authors: Du, Xi-Lin, Ma, Qing-Jiu, Wu, Tao, Bao, Guo-Qiang, Lu, Jian-Guo, Chu, Yan-Kui
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ablation
Adolescent
Adult
AFPmRNA
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
alpha-Fetoproteins - analysis
carcinoma
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - blood
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - surgery
Catheter Ablation
Female
hepatocellular
Humans
Liver Neoplasms - blood
Liver Neoplasms - surgery
Male
Middle Aged
radiofrequency
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Messenger - analysis
RT-PCR
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Summary:BACKGROUND: Many methods are used to treat liver cancer. Among them, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a hot topic because of its advantages. This study was designed to determine the significance of blood alpha-fetoprotein mRNA (AFPmRNA) changes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with RFA. METHODS: The AFPmRNA content in blood samples from HCC patients was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) before RFA and 48 hours, 72 hours, 1 week and 2 weeks later. RESULTS: The blood of 183 patients was negative for AFPmRNA before RFA, but that of 62 of them was positive 72 hours later, then returned to negative after 2 weeks. The blood of 129 patients was positive for AFPmRNA before RFA, but that of 112 of them became negative 2 weeks later; 17 patients were still AFPmRNA positive 2 weeks after RFA. CONCLUSIONS: Blood AFPmRNA, which is increased temporarily after RFA, can be used as an objective index for the persistence and recurrence of HCC after RFA.
ISSN:1499-3872