Clinical Evaluation Of Serum Epidermal Growth Factor Assay In The Diagnosis Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Many growth factors are associated with the carcinogenesis . It is reported that EGF plays an important role in the carcinogenesis through binding with EGF receptor (EGFR) and a series of signal transduction , especially in the hepatocarcinogenesis. To investigate the expression of EGF in hepatocellular carcinoma, to evaluate the clinical significiance of EGF in the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC), as well as the relationship between the expression of serum EGF and AFP concentration were determined in 30 patients with PHC, 22 patients with LC, 28 patients with CH and 48 normal controls (NC) by means of Chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and Radio-Immunoassay (RIA) respectively .The level of serum EGF of PHC patients were significantly lower than those in normal contrals , LC patients and CH patients (P < 0.01), contrary to the views those were presented in the former works , such as the level of serum EGF in PHC patients were significantly higher than those in other liver diseases patients and normal controls;by analysis of correlation ,there is no relationship between EGF and AFP (r=0.1643, P > 0.05) . The diagnostic positivity of EGF was 93.3% in AFP negative PHC patients .The total positive detection rate of PHC with combined EGF and AFP reached 96. 7 %. Above results suggest that serum EGF might be a candidate for a tumor marker for diagnosis of PHC, especially PHC patients with AFP negative . It is helpful in diagnosing HCC earlier and can differentiate PHC from liver cirrhosis.