Alpha-fetoprotein glycosylation is abnormal in some hepatocellular carcinoma, including white patients with a normal alpha-fetoprotein concentration.
Lectin-affinity analyses with Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) and other lectins have demonstrated that the glycosylation of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) secreted by hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) is frequently altered when the serum AFP concentration is increased. To determine if AFP LCA-binding properties are altered in patients with HCC whose serum AFP concentration is normal, the percentage of LCA-binding AFP in serum from white newborns, white normal adults, white patients with chronic hepatitis and hereditary tyrosinemia and white and black patients with HCC were determined. The serum LCA-binding AFP fraction was low in newborns (1-4%) and normal adults (1-8%). There was a significant increase in LCA-binding AFP in patients with chronic hepatitis (10-24%) and hereditary tyrosinemia (5-35%). The AFP LCA-binding fraction was clearly abnormal (greater than 40%) in three of the white patients with an HCC and a normal serum AFP concentration, and the range of values (10-63%) in these HCC patients was similar to that seen in both white and black patients with HCC accompanied by increased AFP concentrations.
Ajdukiewicz
A B
AB
Medical Research Council Laboratories, Banjul, Gambia.
Kelleher
P C
PC
Krawitt
E L
EL
Walters
C J
CJ
Mason
P B
PB
Koff
R S
RS
Bélanger
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000592:Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D044383:Black People; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia; D006031:Glycosylation; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D016014:Linear Models; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011485:Protein Binding; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012307:Risk Factors; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States; D044465:White People; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001741:Black or African American
D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C033619:lentil lectin; D014443:Tyrosine