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Differential alpha‐fetoprotein lectin binding in hepatocellular carcinoma. Diagnostic utility at low serum levels
Author(s) -
Du MingQing,
Hutchinson Winston L.,
Johnson Philip J.,
Williams Roger
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19910115)67:2<476::aid-cncr2820670226>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - fulminant hepatic failure , lectin , hepatocellular carcinoma , alpha fetoprotein , medicine , concanavalin a , gastroenterology , chronic liver disease , pathology , endocrinology , immunology , biology , cirrhosis , liver transplantation , biochemistry , transplantation , in vitro
The reactivity of serum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) from 20 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with immobilized lentil lectin was examined and found to be significantly greater (39% ± 18%) than that of the same protein from seven patients with chronic liver disease (CLD, 11.2% ± 3.3%), seven with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF, 10% ± 8.4%), and eight normal pregnant women (4.1% ± 2.7%). The reactivity with Concanavalin A (Con A) was also significantly greater for AFP from HCC patients (44.5% ± 12.5%) than that from FHF patients (7.7% ± 4%) and normal pregnant women (5.3% ± 3.3%), but not from patients with CLD. The reactivity with lentil lectin permitted distinction between those with HCC (31.3% ± 14.1%) and those with uncomplicated CLD (11.2% ± 8.4%) even when the absolute levels of serum AFP were in the same range (80–400 ng/ml). Evaluation of the alterations by lectin binding methodology may be useful in overcoming problems associated with distinguishing between malignant and CLD, particularly at moderate serum AFP elevations.