China is a country with a high incidence of chronic liver diseases, with the current patient population exceeding 400 million. However, due to the physiological characteristic of the liver's "silent operation", early lesions are often difficult to detect.
Clinical data shows that 70% of liver cancer patients have entered the middle and late stages when they are diagnosed, missing the opportunity for radical treatment. Professor Chen Xinping, director of the Laboratory Department at Hainan Cancer Hospital, stated that the core reason for this situation lies in the obvious limitations of traditional liver function tests: they can only reflect the inflammation and damage of the liver, and are difficult to identify "invisible threats" such as early-stage tumors and metabolic liver damage. This is also the key reason why many people show "normal liver function" in physical examinations but subsequently develop liver diseases.
According to reports, healthy individuals have low and stable AFU levels in their blood. Once liver cells are damaged or undergo cancerous changes, the rupture of lysosomes within the cells can lead to a significant release of AFU into the bloodstream. This abnormal signal can be accurately detected through specialized testing: a significant increase in AFU levels requires high vigilance for primary liver cancer, while a mild increase serves as an early warning sign for chronic liver disease. Clinical data confirms that 81.2% of patients with primary liver cancer exhibit a characteristic of significantly elevated AFU levels.
In liver cancer screening, AFU detection serves as the "golden partner" to alpha fetoprotein (AFP) detection. Given AFU's weakness in easily missing negative cases or detecting extremely early small tumors, AFP can effectively complement it, significantly enhancing the early detection rate of lesions. The combined detection of the two achieved a diagnostic positive rate of 93.1%, laying a solid technical foundation for early diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer. Furthermore, in the postoperative follow-up of liver cancer, fluctuations in AFU levels can provide early warning of recurrence risk, offering scientific evidence for clinical efficacy evaluation and treatment regimen adjustment.
Who should be the focus of AFU testing? Professor Chen Xinping suggests that individuals with a family history of liver disease, those who drink alcohol and stay up late for a long time, obese individuals, and patients with diabetes, hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis, as well as pregnant women and the elderly, all belong to high-risk groups. It is recommended that AFU testing be included as a routine physical examination item.
Regarding screening frequency, it is recommended for ordinary healthy individuals to undergo testing every 2 to 3 years. High-risk groups should undergo testing annually, while patients with liver diseases should follow their doctors' advice and have a follow-up examination every 3 to 6 months.
"The key to safeguarding liver health lies in 'early detection'." Professor Chen Xinping emphasized that combining AFU detection with traditional liver function tests, while adhering to healthy habits such as regular sleep, limiting alcohol and oil intake, and maintaining a light and healthy diet, can establish a "multi-layered protection system" for the liver. This ensures that silent liver lesions are exposed and truly protects the liver health of the entire population.
Expert Introduction
Chen Xinping
Director of Medical Laboratory Department
Chief Physician, Doctor, Researcher
Professor, doctoral supervisor
Second-tier talent of the "515 Talent Project" in Hainan Province
High-level talent, Category D talent in Hainan Province
Expert in clinical laboratory diagnosis in Hainan Province
Biosafety review expert of the Pathogen Microbiology Laboratory of the Health Commission of Hainan Province
Medical expertise
Clinical laboratory diagnosis, clinical molecular diagnosis, laboratory quality management, medical genetics, genetic counseling, forensic evidence identification (parentage testing).
Contributed by | Wang Xiaona