Role of Serum Annexin A2 As a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Comparison with Alpha Fetoprotein

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of serum Annexin A2 (ANXA2) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in comparison to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in group of Egyptian patients.
Methods: This prospective case-control study involved three groups: HCC patients (n=30), cirrhotic patients (n=30), and a control group (n=30). Participants underwent comprehensive evaluation, including medical history, clinical examinations, and laboratory tests including serum levels of AFP. Serum Annexin A2 levels were measured using ELISA. The HCC group patients were followed up for six months post-treatment to assess changes in serum biomarker levels and tumor progression using imaging techniques.
Results: Serum ANXA2 levels were significantly higher in the HCC group (21.87 ± 10.32 ng/dl) compared to the cirrhotic group (4.46 ± 1.12 ng/dl) (P value=0.0001). AFP levels also showed a significant increase in the HCC group compared to the cirrhotic group (254.48 ± 153.39 ng/dl vs. 10.03 ± 6.97 ng/dl; P= 0.0001). After six months of follow-up, there was a notable decrease in the mean value of ANXA2 post-intervention (P= 0.0001), suggesting its utility as a prognostic marker. ROC analysis determined the optimal cutoff value for serum ANXA2 at 6.3 ng/dl, achieving 100% sensitivity and 98.33% specificity with overall diagnostic accuracy of 98.89%.
Conclusions: The study highlights the potential role of ANXA2 as a useful biomarker for HCC, with higher sensitivity and specificity when compared to AFP. ANXA2 could serve as an effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in HCC.