Reviewer's report
Title:Utility of serum des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin in the diagnosis of
hepatocellular carcinoma among Nigerians, a case-control study.
Version:2Date:29 May 2015
Reviewer: Laurent Ehrlich
Reviewer's report:
This article focuses on the merits of an alternative diagnostic/prognostic serum
tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The current gold standard is
AFP, however some reports indicate better sensitivity and specificity with
des-gamma-carbosyprothrombin (DCP). This study evaluates the quality of both
serum markers in a black population from Nigeria. They measured both DCP and
AFP levels in 62 HCC patients and 60 patients with benign liver diseases that
can sometimes mimic HCC. The authors used the newest, most sensitive test for
detecting DCP in the serum
Discretionary revisions.
1. How did HCC cases breakdown? Primary cancers or secondary? Did the
cancers metastasize? Hep B was most common etiologic factor. Was there
significant difference in AFP and DCP values for HCC cases not caused by Hep
B?
2. Was there a correlation between DCP values and the presence of multiple
hepatic tumors?
3. Could DCP be more specific to males instead of females?
4. Literature suggests that while DCP is more specific then AFP, AFP remains
more sensitive. This is not the case in this study. Why do you think that is?
5. DCP is a prothrombin-precursor. Are there dietary considerations in Nigerian
culture that could affect these levels? Or individual patient medications?
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests.
Reviewer's report
Title:Utility of serum des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin in the diagnosis of
hepatocellular carcinoma among Nigerians, a case-control study.
Version:2Date:29 May 2015
Reviewer: Laurent Ehrlich
Reviewer's report:
This article focuses on the merits of an alternative diagnostic/prognostic serum
tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The current gold standard is
AFP, however some reports indicate better sensitivity and specificity with
des-gamma-carbosyprothrombin (DCP). This study evaluates the quality of both
serum markers in a black population from Nigeria. They measured both DCP and
AFP levels in 62 HCC patients and 60 patients with benign liver diseases that
can sometimes mimic HCC. The authors used the newest, most sensitive test for
detecting DCP in the serum
Discretionary revisions.
1. How did HCC cases breakdown? Primary cancers or secondary? Did the
cancers metastasize? Hep B was most common etiologic factor. Was there
significant difference in AFP and DCP values for HCC cases not caused by Hep
B?
2. Was there a correlation between DCP values and the presence of multiple
hepatic tumors?
3. Could DCP be more specific to males instead of females?
4. Literature suggests that while DCP is more specific then AFP, AFP remains
more sensitive. This is not the case in this study. Why do you think that is?
5. DCP is a prothrombin-precursor. Are there dietary considerations in Nigerian
culture that could affect these levels? Or individual patient medications?
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Utility of serum des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin in the diagnosis of
hepatocellular carcinoma among Nigerians, a case-control study.
Version:2Date:29 May 2015
Reviewer: Laurent Ehrlich
Reviewer's report:
This article focuses on the merits of an alternative diagnostic/prognostic serum
tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The current gold standard is
AFP, however some reports indicate better sensitivity and specificity with
des-gamma-carbosyprothrombin (DCP). This study evaluates the quality of both
serum markers in a black population from Nigeria. They measured both DCP and
AFP levels in 62 HCC patients and 60 patients with benign liver diseases that
can sometimes mimic HCC. The authors used the newest, most sensitive test for
detecting DCP in the serum
Discretionary revisions.
1. How did HCC cases breakdown? Primary cancers or secondary? Did the
cancers metastasize? Hep B was most common etiologic factor. Was there
significant difference in AFP and DCP values for HCC cases not caused by Hep
B?
2. Was there a correlation between DCP values and the presence of multiple
hepatic tumors?
3. Could DCP be more specific to males instead of females?
4. Literature suggests that while DCP is more specific then AFP, AFP remains
more sensitive. This is not the case in this study. Why do you think that is?
5. DCP is a prothrombin-precursor. Are there dietary considerations in Nigerian
culture that could affect these levels? Or individual patient medications?
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests.
assistant