Combined Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells, α-fetoprotein Heterogene-3 and α-fetoprotein in the Early Diagnosis of HCC for  the Prediction of Efficacy, Prognosis, Recurrence after Microwave Ablation

Abstract Background: Early diagnosis can significantly improve treatment outcomes for HCC patients. Microwave ablation (MWA) is an important treatment for HCC, there's a lack of specific tests for prognosis. This study investigated the predictive value of combined of AFP, AFP-L3, CTCs. Methods: 143 HCC patients as research subjects (HCC group), 102 liver cirrhosis patients as liver cirrhosis group, 127 hepatitis patients as hepatitis group, 110 healthy outpatients as normal control group. The levels of AFP, AFP-L3 and CTCs were detected, and ROC curve was used to analyze the clinical value of the detection with single and combined indicators in HCC diagnosis. Results: Compared with cirrhosis group, hepatitis group and normal control group, the levels of AFP, AFP-L3, CTCs in HCC group were significantly higher. AFP, AFP-L3, CTCs of patients in non-recurrent group, CR+PR group and OS>3 group were significantly lower than the recurrent group, SD+PD group, OS<3 years group. Conclusion: Combined detection of AFP, AFP-L3, CTCs can effectively make up for the shortcomings of the detection with single and pairwise indicators. It can’t only diagnose HCC in early, but also has a high clinical value in predicting the short-term efficacy, prognosis and recurrence of HCC patients after MWA treatment.