title: Lentil-lectin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant liver disease.
abstract: Affinity chromatography of serum on lentil lectin bound to Sepharose 4B has been used to identify different forms of alpha-fetoprotein in serum of patients with liver disease. We studied eight patients with non-malignant liver disease, finding that 7-15% of the serum alpha-fetoprotein bound to the lectin. In contrast, for 15 patients with malignant liver disease, 25-83% of the serum alpha-fetoprotein bound to the lectin. Evidently, this simple technique can be used effectively to differentiate these two conditions.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D007887:Fabaceae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins