On February 23, the University of South China released the news that after more than 10 years of deep cultivation, the team of Professor Cao Deliang of the university successfully developed a new primary liver cancer diagnostic kit "aldehyde ketone reductase 1B10 assay kit (time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay)", which has obtained the registration approval of the three types of diagnostic reagents of the State Drug Administration. This is the first liver cancer diagnostic kit in Mainland China with completely independent intellectual property rights, and it is also the world's first liver cancer diagnosis product based on aldehyde and keto reductase 1B10 (AKR1B10).
Professor Cao Deliang is doing experiments (Photo by Xia Wenhui, issued by CCTV)
The currently widely used serum diagnostic marker for liver cancer in clinical practice is alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Through large-scale clinical research, Cao Deliang found that AKR1B10 protein as a serum marker of liver cancer, the performance is significantly better than AFP, mainly reflected in three aspects: one is more sensitive, more easy to identify asymptomatic early liver cancer patients; second, more specific, missed diagnosis rate and misdiagnosis rate is lower; third, the time to reflect the change of the disease is 6-7 times faster than AFP, liver cancer patients can learn the surgical effect earlier through AKR1B10 detection after surgery, providing a scientific basis for doctors to develop a reasonable postoperative treatment plan.
Crystal structure diagram of the AKR1B10 protein
The three types of diagnostic reagents approved this time are the highest classification of in vitro diagnostic reagents in mainland China, and the requirements are also the most stringent, and obtaining the registration approval means that it can be directly applied to the clinic. "This is a very promising diagnostic product, we will continue to expand clinical research, accumulate more AKR1B10 for liver cancer screening, early diagnosis, assessment of the condition, monitoring recurrence and other aspects of the data, and continue to optimize and upgrade the kit." Cao Deliang said.
According to data released by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, the number of new cases of liver cancer in the world reached 841,000, ranking 6th in malignant tumors and 782,000 deaths, ranking second in malignant tumors. Cao Deliang pointed out that the incidence of liver cancer is high, the mortality rate is high, the incidence is hidden, and early diagnosis and early treatment are the keys to improving the survival of patients.
Cao Deliang said that he will be committed to continuing to explore and strive to achieve early diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer, provide help for more liver cancer patients, serve healthy China, benefit the people and society, and achieve scientific research to serve the country.
Professor Cao Deliang (second from the right) discusses with some members of the team (Photo by Xia Wenhui, issued by CCTV)