THYROXINE-BINDING GLOBULIN IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

In order to evaluate the possible relevance of the increased serum lev els of thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) in elderly patients with cirrh osis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), TBG and alpha-fetoprotein (AF P) levels were measured in 3 groups: (i) 14 healthy subjects (mean age : 74 +/- 2 years); (ii) 15 patients with cirrhosis of the liver (mean age: 70 +/- 1 years); (iii) 17 patients with cirrhosis and HCC (mean a ge: 71 +/- 1 years). Both TBC and AFP levels were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in-the patients with HCC, as compared to the healthy subje cts or to the cirrhotic ones without HCC. The increased plasma TBG lev els in cirrhotic patients with HCC is probably due to a derepression o f the TBG gene in hepatocytes undergoing neoplastic transformation. Th e results suggest that TBC together with AFP may be of diagnostic valu e for the presence of HCC in aging patients with liver cirrhosis.