Analysis of the correlation between shear wave elastography parameters and tumor marker levels with lesion tissue characteristics in liver cancer patients

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To investigate the correlation between shear wave elastography (SWE) parameters and tumor marker levels with lesion tissue characteristics in liver cancer patients. Methods 93 liver cancer patients in our hospital between June 2020 and June 2023 were recruited into the study as the liver cancer group, and 50 patients with liver nodules were included in the nodule group for comparison. SWE was utilized to measure elasticity parameters such as liver stiffness measurement (LSM), maximum velocity (Vmax), and mean velocity (Vmean). Serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the relationship between these SWE parameters and tumor marker levels with lesion tissue characteristics was analyzed. Results Significant differences were observed between the liver cancer and nodule groups in terms of liver function grading, liver fibrosis grading, and liver inflammation activity (P<0.05). Serum levels of AFP, GGT, and CEA were (245.68 ± 82.43) μg/L, (257.55 ± 95.72) U/L, and (18.22 ± 4.67) U/L, respectively, all of which were significantly higher than in the nodule group [(9.15±2.72) μg/L, (16.24±5.43) U/L, and (0.91±0.24) U/L, respectively; P<0.05]. In the liver cancer group, LSM was (33.47±2.68) kPa, Vmax was (3.92±0.57) m/s, and Vmean was (3.47±0.35) m/s, which were significantly higher than those in the nodule group [(15.87±1.23) kPa, (2.61±0.24) m/s, and (2.36±0.22) m/s, respectively; P<0.05]. Spearman correlation analysis indicated that liver function grading, liver fibrosis grading, and liver inflammation activity were positively correlated with the levels of AFP, GGT, CEA, LSM, Vmax, and Vmean (P<0.05 for all). Conclusion The analysis of the correlation between SWE parameters and tumor marker levels with lesion tissue characteristics in liver cancer patients demonstrates that SWE parameters along with serum AFP, GGT, and CEA levels can serve as effective tools for assessing the condition of liver cancer.

Key words: Shear wave elastography, Liver cancer, Tumor markers, Lesion tissue, Correlation

LIU Miao, ZHANG Qun-qing, WU Juan. Analysis of the correlation between shear wave elastography parameters and tumor marker levels with lesion tissue characteristics in liver cancer patients[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2025, 30(9): 1234-1237.

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