Anti-DCP (Des-γ-carboxy-prothrombin)

 Description:
DCP is a nonfunctional prothrombin resulting from a lack of carboxylation of 10 glutamic acid residues in the N-terminal portion of the molecule. In normal prothrombin, a precursor undergoes post-translational carboxylation in the liver before release into the peripheral blood. The vitamin K dependent carboxylase responsible is absent in many HCC cells, which secrete the noncarboxylated form, DCP.