[Detection of alpha-fetoprotein-L3 using agglutinin-coupled spin column to be used in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of use of lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA)-coupled spin column (ACSC) in detection of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) isoform AFP-L3 and to evaluate the value of AFP-L3 as a biomarker in diagnosis of hepatocellular-carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
The serum samples of 132 patients with elevated AFP level (20-1000 microg/L), 79 diagnosed as with HCC and 53 with benign liver diseases (35 with liver cirrhosis and 18 with chronic hepatitis) underwent ACSC to isolate the fraction of AFP-L3. The contents of AFP and AFP-L3 were detected by micro-particle immunoassay. The ratio of AFP-L3 to total AFP, AFP-L3%, was calculated. Correlation between the abnormally elevated AFP-L3% and HCC was analyzed.


RESULTS
Detection of AFP-L3% using ACSC method was operating friendly. The average value of AFP-L3% in the patients with HCC was 36.4%, significantly higher than those of the patients with benign liver diseases (5.3% respectively, P < 0.01). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of AFP-L3% was 0.807. Taking AFP-L3% > or = 10% as diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity of AFP-L3% in HCC diagnosis was 84.8% (67/79) and the specificity was 92.5% (49/53), with a total conformity rate of 87.9% compared to the confirmed clinical diagnosis. Conclusion ACSC is of clinical value in detecting AFP-L3. AFP-L3% is a valuable biomarker in diagnosis and prediction of prognosis of HCC.
Sun
Gui-zhen
GZ
Center of Clinical Laboratories, Beijing You' an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
Zhao
Xiu-ying
XY
Li
Jun-hong
JH
Zhao
Guo-qing
GQ
Wang
Shao-xiang
SX
Kong
Shu-ling
SL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000373:Agglutinins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000373:Agglutinins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins