Background and study aim: Hepatocellullar carcinoma (HCC) is usually diagnosed at advanced stage resulting in limited therapeutic options and poor prognosis. The role of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the diagnosis of HCC is controversial. Here, we investigated the role of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein -1 (MCP-1), a serum biomarker, alone or in combination with AFP for detection of HCC.
Patients and Methods: 116 patients with liver cirrhosis were included. The patients were divided into 2 groups: HCC group included 58 patients with HCC and non-HCC patients as a control group included 58 patients with no evidence of hepatic focal masses. Routine laboratory investigations, AFP, MCP-1, pelvi-abdominal ultrasonography (US) and triphasic computed tomography (CT) scan were performed in all patients. 
Results: It was found that MCP-1 at a cut-off value >0.390 ng/ml has a sensitivity of 75.8% and specificity of 88.3% with AUROC 0.916; But AFP at a cut-off value >20 ng/ml has a sensitivity of 86.5% and specificity of 96.4% with AUROC 0.924, while combined (AFP+ MCP-1) at a cut-off value >23.390 ng/ml has a higher sensitivity (96.5%) specificity of 100% with AUROC 0.995.
Conclusion: Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) can be identified as an adjuvant biomarker for HCC detection. Combined (AFP+MCP-1) showed higher diagnostic ability than MCP-1 alone or AFP alone in HCC detection.