Thyroxine-binding globulin as a marker of liver tumors.

This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the level of thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) as a marker of liver tumors. TBG examination was performed on 42 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) and 50 postoperative patients with metastases to the liver. alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentrations were determined at the same time. AFP was positive in 90.5% of the patients with PHC, and TBG was higher than normal in 69% of patients with PHC. In the 50 patients with liver metastasis, the TBG was higher than normal in 72%, and CEA was also increased in 64%. CEA was negative in 18 of 50 patients with liver metastasis. On the other hand, of the 18 CEA-negative patients, 14 (77.8%) had a higher than normal TBG concentration. This was a significant, but not specific, increase. Therefore, elevated TBG levels are a sensitive, although nonspecific, tumor marker to determine the presence of liver tumors, especially in cases of metastasis to the liver.