title: The immunosuppression role of alpha-fetoprotein in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related death. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is perhaps the best-defined tumor marker for HCC, and as such, it is widely used in clinical settings as an adjuvant diagnostic and prognostic tool. Up to 70% of HCC cases exhibit elevated serum level of AFP, but its pathophysiological functions in HCC are poorly defined. It is now known that AFP is not just a fetal form of carrier protein and a tumor marker, it is also critically involved in the regulation of several important cellular functions, such as cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and immune regulation. In this mini-review, we summarize the recent development of AFP in hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Special Minimally Invasive Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.|The Second Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.|Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Clinical Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.|Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Special Minimally Invasive Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.|The Second Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.|Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Clinical Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.|Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.|Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Clinical Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.|Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.
authors.forename: Zhongtian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.|Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Clinical Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.|Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.|Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Clinical Medical College Cancer Center of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.|Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Storr Liver Centre, the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Department of Medicine, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qiao
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins