Significance of Golgi Protein 73, Alpha-Fetoprotein and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression in Diagnosis of Primary Hepatic Cancer

Aim: We measured Golgi protein73 (GP73), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in primary hepatic cancer (PHC) and assessed their clinical significance. Methods: Forty-five PHC and tumor-adjacent specimens and 14 normal liver specimens were examined. GP73, AFP, and VEGF expression was measured via immunohistochemistry and a correlation of protein expression with clinical pathology of PHC was suggested. Results: GP73, AFP, and VEGF expression was significantly higher in PHC and tumor-adjacent tissue compared to tumor-adjacent tissue (0.143 ± 0.018 vs. 0.124 ± 0.027, 0.116 ± 0.026 vs. 0.098 ± 0.014, and 0.126 ± 0.027 vs. 0.092 ± 0.016, respectively; all p < 0.05) and normal liver tissue (0.124 ± 0.027 vs. 0.088 ± 0.029, 0.098 ± 0.014 vs. 0.073 ± 0.011, and 0.092 ± 0.016 vs. 0.076 ± 0.018, respectively; all p < 0.05), respectively. GP73 expression was positively correlated with pathological grade and cirrhosis, but not with tumor size, nodules, clinical stage and serum AFP. VEGF expression was positively correlated with tumor size, nodules, portal vein tumor thrombus, and clinical stage, but not with the degree of tumor differentiation and serum AFP. Expression of GP73 and VEGF was greater than that of AFP in PHC (both p < 0.05). Conclusion: GP73 is highly expressed in PHC and may be a diagnostic marker. Combined detection of GP73, AFP, and VEGF is helpful for diagnosis of PHC.