Table 1.
Some of the current and additional markers for early detection of HCC.
| Marker | Pros | Cons | Notes | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFP | Good for screening patients from risk groups | Low sensitivity | Established | [12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19] |
| GCP3 | Negative prognostic value, Detection of GPC3 itself allows differentiation of HCC from healthy liver tissue, benign lesions, and liver cirrhosis, marker of malignant transformation | Specificity 72–81% | Established | [21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28] |
| OPN | Negative prognostic value, positive in AFP negative HCC | Experimental | [36,37,38,39,40] | |
| DCP | Negative prognostic value, allows differentiation form other chronic liver diseases | Experimental | [42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49] | |
| AFP-L3 | Good for screening, detecting recurrence, negative prognostic value | Elevated in Hepatitis | Experimental | [17,50,51,52,54] |
| GP73 | Negative prognostic value | Elevated in other diseases (HBV caused cirrhosis, focal nodular hyperplasia) | Experimental | [58,59,60,61] |
| miRNA | Negative prognostic value, possible screening value | Experimental | [64,65,66,67,68,69] |
Abbreviations: AFP—Alpha-fetoprotein; GCP3—Glypicane-3; OPN—Osteopontin; DCP—Des-γ-Carboxy Prothrombin; AFP-L3—AFP with a high lectin affinity; Lens culinaris—agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP, GP73-Golgi protein-73, miRNA-MicroRNA.