Background and purpose: E-cadherin (EC) is a type of glycoprotein

which could maintain epithelial polarity and cell-cell junction. It is thought to be associated with the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study aimed to detect expression of uniting detection sEC and AFP before and after operation in patients

and to monitor recurrence of postoperative. Methods: The levels of sEC and AFP in 105 HCC patients were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) before and after operation as well as in 70 healthy controls. Theirs correlation with clinical and pathological factors was analyzed. We analyzed the level of plasma sEC and AFP of 47 patients who had been suffered from the hepatocellular carcinoma operation and relapse. Results: The levels of sEC and AFP in HCC patients before operation were significantly higher than in controls

which declined significantly one week after operation. The sEC level before operation showed significant correlation with TNM staging (P0.01)

edmondson grade

the carcerous thrombi within the portal vein and the capsule of carcinoma (P0.05)

but not with age of patients or the tumor size (P0.05). While AFP only correlation with TNM staging (P0.05)

not with others factors (P0.05). When the recurrence was confirmed

the level of sEC was much higher significantly than the level postoperation (P0.01). Conclusion: The levels of sEC in HCC patients before operation are closely related with prognosis and recurrence of HCC. The unites detection of sEC+AFP may be a predictive factor for recurrence of postoperation.