Abstract
Galectin-3 is not useful for hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in cirrhotic patients but it may be a marker of cirrhosis development
- Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Alexandria University, Egypt
- Hepatology Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt
Aim of the study
Ultrasound surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among cirrhotic patients is the currently used modality but it is operator dependent. Combining a tumor marker with ultrasound may improve sensitivity for early HCC detection. Our aim was to assess the galectin-3 level among HCC and cirrhotic patients on top of chronic hepatitis C to evaluate its possible role as a tumor marker for HCC surveillance among cirrhotic patients.
Material and methods
The study was conducted on 160 subjects. They were grouped as follows: group 1: 40 patients with HCC secondary to liver cirrhosis on top of chronic hepatitis C; group 2: 40 patients with cirrhosis secondary to chronic hepatitis C; group 3: 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C without advanced fibrosis; group 4: 40 healthy controls. Serum galectin-3 levels were determined in all subjects using ELISA.
Results
Serum galectin-3 level was significantly higher in HCC patients than in those with chronic hepatitis C (p < 0.001). Also it was significantly higher among cirrhotic patients than in patients with chronic hepatitis C (p < 0.001). But on comparing HCC patients with cirrhotic patients, serum galectin-3 levels were not significantly different (p = 0.926).
Conclusions
Galectin-3 levels cannot be used as an additional method for surveillance of HCC among cirrhotic patients.
Keywords
antiviral agents, liver cirrhosis, neoplasm recurrence
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