FEATURES OF AFP EXPRESSION LEVEL AT DIFFERENT STAGES AND GRADATIONS OF HCC, CORRELATION ANALYSIS BETWEEN SERUM AFP

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor of the liver which accounts for up to 90% of all liver cancers. In recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of HCC all over the world, including in Kazakhstan. Diagnostic issues are still important. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a specific marker most widely used in the diagnosis of HCC. The article describes of the features of the AFP expression level in immunohistochemical studies with different stages and gradation of hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as a correlation analysis with serum AFP. Material and methods. A total of 50 patients with HCC were analyzed. Blood serum tests were performed to determine the level of AFP and an IHC study to assess the expression of AFP. Results. When analyzing the serological AFP, it was found that in the vast majority of cases (n=33), values were between 10-20 units/ml. In 83% cases HCC, cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of AFP was determined in malignant cells in IHC. The expression of the AFP was high in 32% cases, moderate in 46% cases, and low or not detected in 22% cases. The area of AFP - immunopositive cells node averaged 37.25±15.47%. When conducting a correlation analysis, it was found that the overall Pearson correlation coefficient between serum AFP and the degree of AFP staining was r = +0.0089. Conclusion. Critically high AFP values correlate with the degree of HCC differentiation. The results of IHC showed that in 83% of patients with HCC, cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of AFP, which indicates a high sensitivity of the marker regarding the definition of malignancy. Given the absence of a correlation, it can be assumed that the serum AFP value cannot be associated with AFP expression data in immunohistochemistry and can be used as a separate value for HCC differentiation