Utility of serum YKL-40 as a tumor-specific marker of hepatobiliary malignancies

Ju Dong Yang, Eugene Kim, Rachel A. Pedersen, W. Ray Kim, Surakit Pungpapong, Lewis R. Roberts

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background/Aims: Serum YKL-40 has been linked to several human cancers. We investigated the potential role of serum YKL-40 as a marker of hepatobiliary malignancies. Methods: Archived serum samples of patients undergoing liver transplantation evaluation at the Mayo Clinic Rochester were used to measure YKL-40 levels. Patients were divided into three groups: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and end-stage liver disease (ESLD) without malignancies. The Model for ESLD (MELD) score was used to quantify the severity of liver disease. Results: The median serum YKL-40 level was highest in the ESLD group at 296 ng/mL, compared to 259 ng/mL in the HCC group and 80 ng/mL in the CCA group (p<0.01). There was a significant correlatio between the MELD score and serum YKL-40 level (r=0.50, p<0.01). In a multivariate analysis, there was no significant difference in serum YKL-40 level between ESLD and HCC. CCA was associated with lower YKL-40 levels, a finding that was attributable to a lower prevalence of cirrhosis. Conclusions: The serum YKL-40 level has little utility as a cross-sectional screening tool for hepatobiliary malignancies, namely HCC and CCA. The role of YKL-40 as a surveillance marker in the follow-up of individual patients remains to be determined.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)537-542
Number of pages6
JournalGut and Liver
Volume4
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2010

Keywords

  • Cholangiocarcinoma
  • End stage liver disease
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Model for end-stage liver disease
  • YKL-40

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology

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