Abstract: ObjectiveTo detect the serum expression level of Pokemon and explore its clinical value combines with AFP, AFPL3 or DCP in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodsIn this study, the serum levels of Pokemon, AFP, AFPL3 and DCP in 30 patients with HCC, 34 patients with benign liver diseases and 30 healthy controls were examined by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Then, the clinical significance of Pokemon expression level was analyzed. In the end, the diagnostic evaluation of four serum biomarker alone detection was used to analyze the sensitivity, specificity, the area under the curve and Youden index in the diagnosis of HCC. ResultsThe serum expression level of Pokemon in patients with HCC was (22.63±6.82)ng/ml, which was significantly higher than that in the group with benign liver diseases and healthy controls ［(3.54±1.26)ng/ml, t=8.594, P＜0.001; (1.95±0.57)ng/ml, t=10.021, P＜0.001］. The expression level of Pokemon in HCC patients was correlated to tumor size (t=2.678, P=0.021) and TNM stag (t=2.578, P=0.034). The serum expression levels of AFP, AFPL3 and DCP in patients with HCC were (774.56±96.52)ng/ml, (26.37±2.54)ng/ml and (93.49±30.45)mAU/ml, which were significantly higher than those in the group with benign liver diseases ［(22.21±3.57)ng/ml, (7.05±2.71)ng/ml, (34.68±10.13)mAU/ml］ and healthy controls ［(14.65±4.45)ng/ml, (3.84±1.09)ng/ml, (25.87±9.01)mAU/ml, F=58.46, P=0.000; F=12.47, P=0.000; F=23.41, P=0.000］. The sensitivity and specificity of Pokemon, AFP, AFPL3, DCP in the diagnosis of HCC were 84.6% and 87.5%, 52.5% and 78.9%, 95.0% and 80.0%, 77.1% and 87.5%, respectively. ConclusionThe enhanced Pokemon serum level， with its sensitivity and specificity higher than AFP, points out Pokemon may be a potentially useful biomarker to diagnose HCC.

Key words: Liver neoplasms, Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay, Pokemon protein