Low utility of plasma Nociceptin/orphanin FQ in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM： The utility of serum alpha-fetoprotein （α-FP） in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is questionable. Very high circulating levels of nociceptin/ orphanin FQ （N/OFQ）, a ligand for a novel opioid receptor, have recently been reported in HCC. The aim of this study was to assess the ro...

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Published in:World journal of gastroenterology : WJG 2006-08, Vol.12 (29), p.4716-4720
Main Authors: Spadaro, Aldo, Ajello, Antonino, Luigiano, Carmelo, Morace, Carmela, Resta, Maria Letizia, Berlinghieri, Grazia, Campo, Salvatore, Scisca, Claudio, Alibrandi, Angela, D'Arrigo, Graziella, Alessi, Nunziata, Ferrau, Oscar, Freni, Maria Antonietta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Biomarkers, Tumor - blood
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - blood
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - diagnosis
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - etiology
Case-Control Studies
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis - complications
Liver Neoplasms - blood
Liver Neoplasms - diagnosis
Liver Neoplasms - etiology
Male
Middle Aged
Nociceptin
Opioid Peptides - blood
Predictive Value of Tests
Rapid Communication
Sensitivity and Specificity
病理机制
等离子体
肝细胞癌
诊断方法
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Summary:AIM： The utility of serum alpha-fetoprotein （α-FP） in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is questionable. Very high circulating levels of nociceptin/ orphanin FQ （N/OFQ）, a ligand for a novel opioid receptor, have recently been reported in HCC. The aim of this study was to assess the role of plasma N/OFQ in the diagnosis of HCC arising in patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS： Plasma N/OFQ levels were measured by ELISA in 58 patients （28 HCC and 30 liver cirrhosis） and in 25 healthy controls. The values were correlated with clinical and laboratory features including α-FP. Spearman index, biserial correlation coefficient, non parametric combination （NPC） test and discriminant stepwise analysis were used for statistical evaluation of data. RESULTS： The upper normal limit of nociceptin was 122 pg/mL. Plasma levels above this cut-off were found in 21.4% of patients with HCC, in 23.3% of those with cirrhosis and in 8% of healthy subjects. α-FP serum levels〉200 ng/mL were found in 46.4% of the patients with HCC and in none of those with cirrhosis. No correlation was found between N/OFQ levels and any of the clinical and laboratory features, including α-FP. By NPC test, HCC and cirrhotic patients were different with regard to α-FP （P = 0.000） but not in terms of nociceptin （P = 0.595）. By point biserial correlation, HCC presence was positively correlated with α-FP （rpb = 0.52, P = 0.000） but not with N/OFQ （rpb = 0.16, P = 0.157）. In a discriminant analysis, α-FP was significant in the Wilks test （Y = -0.709 ＋ 0.03 α-FP） and properly classified 81% of all patients and 61% of HCC. N/OFQ had lower sensitivity, specificity and predictive values than α-FP. CONCLUSION： Nociceptin is increased in patients with chronic liver disease, independently of the presence of HCC, although the underlying mechanism has yet to be clarified. We conclude it is not a useful marker for HCC.
ISSN:1007-9327
2219-2840
DOI:10.3748/wjg.v12.i29.4716