label: Increased PIVKA-II
label_lc: increased pivka-ii
description: "Des-gamma carboxyprothrombin (DCP) or pro-thrombin induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) is an abnormal prothrombin protein that is increased in the serum of patients with HCC. Generation of DCP is thought to be a result of an acquired defect in the post- translational carboxylation of the prothrombin precursor in malignant cells."