Mayo Clinic Laboratories > Gastroenterology > Liver disease > Hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Assess cancer risk and identify opportunities for increased surveillance

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of death from cancer in the world. While HCC can be effectively treated in its early stages, most patients are not diagnosed until they are symptomatic and at higher grades and stages, when the disease is less responsive to therapies. Laboratory testing and imaging can identify at-risk patients needing increased surveillance to help aid in early diagnosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma Test menu

Hepatocellular carcinoma Hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Key testing

Includes

  • DCP | Des-Gamma-Carboxy Prothrombin, Serum
    • Assesses risk for developing HCC in patients with chronic liver disease.
    • Aids in the monitoring of HCC patients post-therapy if the des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin level was elevated prior to therapy.
  • L3AFP | Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) L3% and Total, Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumor Marker, Serum
    • Distinguishes between HCC and chronic liver disease.
    • Monitors individuals with hepatic cirrhosis from any etiology for progression to HCC.
    • Monitors individuals with a positive family history of hepatic cancer for development of HCC.
    • Monitors for development of HCC in individuals within specific ancestral and gender groups who do not have hepatic cirrhosis but have a confirmed diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B infection acquired early in life, including African males above age 20, Asian males above age 40, and Asian females above age 50.
  • AFP | Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) Tumor Marker, Serum
    • Monitors patients undergoing cancer therapy, especially for hepatocellular carcinoma.
View chart Biomarkers included in the panel
View graphic In a study of 74 patients, the use of a 3-biomarker panel test detected 67 HCC cases (91%). The use of AFP alone would have detected only 45 HCC cases (60%), or 22 fewer cases than using a panel.2

Highlights

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk Panel with GALAD Score

In this “Hot Topic,” Joshua Bornhorst, Ph.D., assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at Mayo Clinic, reviews biomarker component testing for hepatocellular carcinoma, explains the GALAD score, and explores GALAD score testing at Mayo Clinic Laboratories.

Learn more
References
  1. Bertine G2, Ardiri AM, Calvango GS, et. al. Prognostic and diagnostic value of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin in liver cancer. Drug News Perspect. 2010 Oct; 23(8):498-508.
  2. Data collected for TAS Wako i30 Analyzer and Test systems US FDA (510)k submission
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