Multicenter prospective analysis of newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma with respect to the percentage of <i>Lens culinaris</i> agglutinin‐reactive α‐fetoprotein¹

Abstract

Serum AFP concentration does not reveal a malignancy of HCC, however, the AFP-L3-positive HCC has biologically malignant characteristics, especially portal vein invasion and lower tumor classification, and is an advanced tumor regardless of small tumor size and lower serum AFP concentration. As AFP-L3 shows the tumor characteristics, its presence should be an important factor in the determination of therapy and prognosis of patients.