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Park D, Choi D, Lee J, Lim DS, Park C. Male-like sexual behavior of female mouse lacking fucose mutarotase. BMC Genet 2010; 11:62. [PMID: 20609214 PMCID: PMC2912782 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2156-11-62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2009] [Accepted: 07/07/2010] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mutarotases are recently characterized family of enzymes that are involved in the anomeric conversions of monosaccharides. The mammalian fucose mutarotase (FucM) was reported in cultured cells to facilitate fucose utilization and incorporation into protein by glycosylation. However, the role of this enzyme in animal has not been elucidated. Results We generated a mutant mouse specifically lacking the fucose mutarotase (FucM) gene. The FucM knockout mice displayed an abnormal sexual receptivity with a drastic reduction in lordosis score, although the animals were fertile due to a rare and forced intromission by a typical male. We examined the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPv) of the preoptic region in brain and found that the mutant females showed a reduction in tyrosine hydoxylase positive neurons compared to that of a normal female. Furthermore, the mutant females exhibited a masculine behavior, such as mounting to a normal female partner as well as showing a preference to female urine. We found a reduction of fucosylated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in a mutant embryo relative to that of a wild-type embryo. Conclusions The observation that FucM-/- female mouse exhibits a phenotypic similarity to a wild-type male in terms of its sexual behavior appears to be due to the neurodevelopmental changes in preoptic area of mutant brain resembling a wild-type male. Since the previous studies indicate that AFP plays a role in titrating estradiol that are required to consolidate sexual preference of female mice, we speculate that the reduced level of AFP in FucM-/- mouse, presumably resulting from the reduced fucosylation, is responsible for the male-like sexual behavior observed in the FucM knock-out mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongkyu Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 335 Gwahangno, Yuseong-Gu, Daejon 305-701, Korea
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Debruyne EN, Delanghe JR. Diagnosing and monitoring hepatocellular carcinoma with alpha-fetoprotein: new aspects and applications. Clin Chim Acta 2008; 395:19-26. [PMID: 18538135 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2008.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2008] [Revised: 05/09/2008] [Accepted: 05/11/2008] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the 5th most common cancer in the world. Prognosis for this disease is poor since hepatocellular carcinoma is mostly diagnosed at an advanced stage. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is one of the most common diagnostic markers for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, its diagnostic value is more and more questioned. Therefore, research has focussed on AFP related parameters (AFP mRNA and AFP glycoforms). The aim of this paper is to review the present knowledge on AFP and its related parameters in diagnosing and monitoring HCC. AFP related parameters can be arranged in two types: AFP mRNA and AFP glycoforms. AFP mRNA is a potentially prognostic marker and AFP mRNA assays are based on PCR techniques. The AFP glycoforms have diagnostic potential and assays are based on isoelectric focussing and lectin affinity electrophoretic methods. Up to now the diagnostic use of the AFP related parameters is limited. Although some of them are recommended as a complementary test, they cannot (yet) replace serum AFP as the golden standard of diagnostic markers for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evi N Debruyne
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
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Ichikawa E, Kuriyama S, Yuji J, Masaki T, Uchida N, Nishioka M, Taketa K. Further resolution of alpha-fetoprotein glycoforms by two-dimensional isoelectric focusing and lectin affinity electrophoresis. Electrophoresis 2006; 27:3480-7. [PMID: 16944460 DOI: 10.1002/elps.200600040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) from serum of patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was separated into several bands by IEF and by erythroagglutinating phytohemagglutinin (E-PHA) affinity electrophoresis. These AFP bands were directly compared in 2-D IEF and E-PHA affinity electrophoresis. IEF of serum AFP was run in 1% agarose IEF gel with 3% Pharmalyte 4.5-5.4. After IEF, a part of the gel was stained for AFP and another part of the gel corresponding to the area of separated AFP bands was cut in 1 mm x 39 mm along the focused direction and transferred to a trough in 1% agarose gel with 0.3 mg/mL E(4)-PHA for second-dimensional affinity electrophoresis. Separated 2-D AFP spots were visualized by antibody-affinity blotting and identified by combining the systems of Johnson et al.. (Johnson, P. J., Ho, S., Cheng, P., Chan, A. et al.., Cancer 1995, 75, 1663-1668) for AFP-I-+IV and of Taketa et al.. (Taketa, K., Ichikawa, E., Taga, H., Hirai, H., Electrophoresis 1985, 6, 492-497) for AFP-P1-5. AFP-P2, the major AFP glycoform, was composed of AFP-I, AFP+I, and AFP+II; AFP-P3, a nonspecific monosialo-AFP, was composed of AFP+II; AFP-P4, HCC-specific monosialo-AFP, was composed of AFP+II, AFP+III, and AFP+IV; and malignancy-related AFP-P5 was composed of AFP+I and AFP+II. Monosialo-AFP (AFP+II) was recovered in all the glycoforms of AFP-P2, -P3, -P4, and -P5; thus, AFP-P4 is more specific to HCC than monosialylated AFP+II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eriko Ichikawa
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan
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Albrecht W, Santis MD, Dossenbach-Glaninger A. Testicular tumor markers: Corner-stones in the management of malignant germ cell tumors / Hoden-Tumor-marker: Eckpfeiler in der Behandlung maligner Keimzelltumoren. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004. [DOI: 10.1515/labmed.2004.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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5
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Poon TCW, Mok TSK, Chan ATC, Chan CML, Leong V, Tsui SHT, Leung TWT, Wong HTM, Ho SKW, Johnson PJ. Quantification and Utility of Monosialylated α-Fetoprotein in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Nondiagnostic Serum Total α-Fetoprotein. Clin Chem 2002. [DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/48.7.1021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
AbstractBackground: At concentrations <500 μg/L, serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) has low specificity in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but monosialylated AFP (msAFP) is more specific for HCC. We describe two strategies for quantitative analysis of msAFP and explore their diagnostic accuracy in cases of HCC with nondiagnostic serum total AFP concentrations.Methods: We first used isoelectric focusing, Western blot, and densitometry (IEF-Western blot assay). We then developed a second assay, a novel glycosylation immunosorbent assay (GISA), based on the specificity of sialyltransferase and immunosorbent technology. Both assays were used to measure msAFP and msAFP percentage relative to total AFP in sera with nondiagnostic AFP concentrations from 36 patients with newly diagnosed HCC and from 18 patients with liver cirrhosis.Results: The msAFP percentages and concentrations were significantly higher in the HCC patient group regardless of the quantification methods. The msAFP concentrations and msAFP percentages obtained by the two assays were highly correlated (r = 0.70 and 0.49, respectively). For discrimination of HCC with nondiagnostic serum total AFP from liver cirrhosis, the areas under the ROC curves were 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.70–0.92) for msAFP by IEF-Western blot assay, 0.73 (0.58–0.87) for msAFP by GISA, 0.89 (0.80–0.97) for msAFP percentage by IEF-Western blot assay, and 0.74 (0.59–0.89) for msAFP percentage by GISA.Conclusions: Both the serum concentration and percentage of msAFP are potential diagnostic markers for HCC with nondiagnostic AFP. GISA can quantify a specific glycoform of a serologic marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terence CW Poon
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the Sir Y.K. Pao Centre for Cancer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Tony SK Mok
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the Sir Y.K. Pao Centre for Cancer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Anthony TC Chan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the Sir Y.K. Pao Centre for Cancer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Charles ML Chan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the Sir Y.K. Pao Centre for Cancer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Veronica Leong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the Sir Y.K. Pao Centre for Cancer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Steven HT Tsui
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the Sir Y.K. Pao Centre for Cancer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Thomas WT Leung
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the Sir Y.K. Pao Centre for Cancer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Herman TM Wong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the Sir Y.K. Pao Centre for Cancer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Stephen KW Ho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the Sir Y.K. Pao Centre for Cancer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Philip J Johnson
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the Sir Y.K. Pao Centre for Cancer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
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Johnson PJ. The role of serum alpha-fetoprotein estimation in the diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Liver Dis 2001; 5:145-59. [PMID: 11218912 DOI: 10.1016/s1089-3261(05)70158-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Forty years after its discovery, estimation of serum AFP remains a useful test for clinicians involved in management of patients with HCC or chronic liver disease. The test, when used with the conventional cut-off point of 500 ng/mL, has a sensitivity of about 50% and a specificity of more than 90% in detecting the presence of HCC in a patient with coexisting liver disease. New tests that can significantly increase the specificity at lower levels (i.e., between 10 and 500 ng/mL) are available but have, to date, been too complex to be widely applied in clinical practice. Serum AFP estimation may also be useful in monitoring response to therapy, particularly as more effective systemic regimens are becoming available. Indeed, there is preliminary evidence that changes in serum AFP may be a more accurate and sensitive way of determining the degree of response to treatment than conventional imaging procedures that rely on physical determination of tumor size. It may, perhaps, be time to add changes in serum AFP to the conventional imaging criteria for assessing response in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Johnson
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Nouri AM, Torabi-Pour N, Dabare AA. A new highly specific monoclonal antibody against placental alkaline phosphatase: a potential marker for the early detection of testis tumour. BJU Int 2000; 86:894-900. [PMID: 11069419 DOI: 10.1046/j.1464-410x.2000.00939.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against human germ cell tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS A single-cell suspension obtained from tumour tissue fragments (consisting of both tumour and normal compartments) from a patient with seminoma was used as an immunogen. Spleen cells from immunized mice were used to develop mAbs. Tissue specificity, biochemical characteristics and competitive studies were analysed using immunocytochemical staining, dot blots and a Western blot analysis, to identify target antigen(s). RESULTS The immunization protocol led to the development of 107 hybridomas, 90 of which were negative against the original tissue biopsies. The remaining 17 showed positivity against various tissue compartments. One selected mAb (ATC2) showed specific staining on germ cell tumours but not on normal tissues, and positive staining with some human tumour cell lines. The target antigen for ATC2 was confirmed to be placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) based on: Western blot analysis compared with commercially available PLAP; comparison of the data with another well-known anti-PLAP mAb (H17E2, although the two mAbs recognized different antigenic epitopes); heat resistance characteristics; high-performance liquid chromatography of the ATC2 target antigen and purified PLAP. CONCLUSION The selected mAb ATC2 has high specificity for human germ cell tumours, the target antigen for ATC2 being PLAP, although the antigenic epitope(s) differ from those recognized by H17E2. Thus ATC2 may be useful for monitoring serum levels of PLAP in patients with testis cancer and may be relevant for detecting cancer cells in the semen of individuals with suspected testis cancer, particularly in those with equivocal findings on ultrasonography.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Nouri
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK
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Johnson PJ, Poon TC, Hjelm NM, Ho CS, Blake C, Ho SK. Structures of disease-specific serum alpha-fetoprotein isoforms. Br J Cancer 2000; 83:1330-7. [PMID: 11044358 PMCID: PMC2408795 DOI: 10.1054/bjoc.2000.1441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is widely used as a serological marker in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT). By application of isoelectric focusing (IEF) disease-specific AFP isoforms can be identified. Three major bands are apparent: + 1 (associated with 'benign' liver disease), + II (associated with HCC) and +III (associated with NSGCT). Recently, we have characterized the predominant glycans of human serum AFP and now report the application of these findings and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to the determination of the glycan composition of the isoforms present in the sera of 12 patients with HCC and of one patient with NSGCT. ESI-MS allowed simultaneous identification of various AFP glycoforms in purified serum AFP. Seven glycoforms were identified, but with different abundance in the sera of the HCC patients, whereas six glycoforms were identified in the serum from the NSGCT patient. The glycan structures of these glycoforms were deduced from their observed masses. AFP glycoforms carrying a single biantennary complex-type N -glycan appeared as the predominant glycoforms, whereas those carrying both N -glycan and O -glycan appeared as minor glycoforms. Correlation between the abundance of the AFP glycoforms and the IEF band intensity suggested that different degrees in sialylation cause the formation of isoforms. This contention was subsequently supported by the ESI-MS and kinetic in vitro desialylation studies on purified Bands + l and + lI AFPs. Our findings indicate that HCC-associated isoforms (Band + II) represent a group of glycoproteins whose carbohydrate structures are all characterized by being mono-sialylated, whereas those associated with benign liver disease and NSGCT are di- and a-sialo species, respectively. Knowledge of the structure of the tumour-specific isoforms should form an important basis for clinically useful assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Johnson
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
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9
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Johnson PJ, Poon TC, Hjelm NM, Ho CS, Ho SK, Welby C, Stevenson D, Patel T, Parekh R, Townsend RR. Glycan composition of serum alpha-fetoprotein in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and non-seminomatous germ cell tumour. Br J Cancer 1999; 81:1188-95. [PMID: 10584881 PMCID: PMC2374329 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6690828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Although estimation of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is widely used in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT), the clinical usefulness of this test is limited by a low specificity. However, there exist glycoforms of AFP which may be more specific for particular tumours. Previously, detailed analysis has been prevented by the low levels of AFP in human serum. We report here the application of fluorescence labelling, sequential exoglycosidase digestion, high-performance liquid chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization in time-of-flight mass spectrometry, to determine the glycan structures of purified serum AFP from patients with HCC and NSGCT. Eleven major glycans were found, of which seven were N-linked, and four were O-linked, to the protein backbone. The structure of the N-linked glycans (all of bi-antennary complex-type with varying degrees of sialylation, fucosylation and galactosylation) were consistent with those previously reported. The O-linked glycans (three mucin O-GalNAc type glycans with variable degrees of sialylation, one O-HexNAc monosaccharide glycan) have not previously been reported. The finding of mucin O-GalNAc type glycans was supported by the prediction of potential O-GalNAc glycosylation sites on the protein backbone by analysis of the AFP structure by molecular modelling. With knowledge of these structures it may be possible to develop more specific assays for the detection of HCC and NSGCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Johnson
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, SAR, China
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10
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Abstract
Thirty-five years after its first description, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) remains the gold standard by which other markers are judged. Serum levels above the reference range of 10 ng/mL occur in approximately 75% of cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In individual patients, the serum AFP level behaves as if it reflects tumour mass. However, the specificity of AFP is relatively low because moderately raised levels are also found in some patients with uncomplicated chronic liver disease. Recently, tumour-specific AFP assays have been developed. These are based on the carbohydrate side-chains on the AFP molecule which exhibit characteristic differences in AFP of different origins. Monitoring response to treatment may often be more effectively carried out by serial estimation of AFP than by conventional imaging techniques. The relative specificity of AFP for HCC has also been employed to detect circulating HCC cells and to target gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Johnson
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin
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Johnson PJ, Leung N, Cheng P, Welby C, Leung WT, Lau WY, Yu S, Ho S. 'Hepatoma-specific' alphafetoprotein may permit preclinical diagnosis of malignant change in patients with chronic liver disease. Br J Cancer 1997; 75:236-40. [PMID: 9010032 PMCID: PMC2063272 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1997.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The only hope for effective treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC or 'hepatoma') lies in early diagnosis. Measurement of the serum alphafetoprotein (AFP) level is potentially a useful screening test. When grossly raised, it is almost diagnostic of HCC. However, modestly elevated levels may also arise in patients with benign chronic liver disease, and this markedly decreases the test's specificity and hence its clinical value. In 582 consecutive attendees at an outpatient clinic for people with chronic liver disease, a single blood sample was taken for analysis of 'total' AFP and the 'hepatoma-specific' AFP isoform. Using ultrasonography as the primary screening method, patients with AFP levels > or = 50 ng ml-1 were followed up throughout the study or until HCC was diagnosed on the basis of conventionally defined criteria. On entry into the study, 53 patients had an AFP concentration > = or 50 ng ml-1 and the 'hepatoma-specific' AFP isoform was detected in 26 of these. During an 18-month follow-up period, a diagnosis of HCC was established by conventional methods in 19 (17 'definite' and two 'probable') of these 26 patients. In only two cases was there ultrasound evidence of tumour development at the time AFP was first found to be elevated; in the remainder a diagnosis of HCC, based on ultrasound screening, was established at a median time of 3.6 months (range 1-18 months) after entry into the study. Among those 27 without the 'hepatoma-specific' isoform, one developed a 'definite' HCC and two developed 'probable' tumours. With the application of 'hepatoma-specific' AFP, the positive predictive value of the test was 73.1%, compared with only 41.5% using the conventional 'total' AFP test. Application of this test for the 'hepatoma-specific' AFP markedly increases the positive predictive value of AFP and, in some cases, permits the presence of tumour to be inferred before it could be detected by routine ultrasound examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Johnson
- Hepatoma Study Group, Sir YK Pao Cancer Centre, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
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12
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Ho S, Cheng P, Yuen J, Chan A, Leung N, Yeo W, Leung T, Lau WY, Li AK, Johnson PJ. Isoelectric focusing of alphafetoprotein in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma--frequency of specific banding patterns at non-diagnostic serum levels. Br J Cancer 1996; 73:985-8. [PMID: 8611436 PMCID: PMC2075834 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1996.192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Serum levels of alphafetoprotein are raised in 60-80% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Although widely used as a serum marker, frequent false-positive results in patients with benign liver disease, result in poor specificity. This occurs particularly when levels of alphafetoprotein fall between 50-500 ng ml-1, the so-called 'grey area'. Recent reports suggest that isoelectric focusing of alphafetoprotein demonstrates certain bands that are more specific for hepatocellular carcinoma. Our aim was to determine whether the apparent specificity of this new approach is gained at the expense of decreased sensitivity. Sera from 110 patients with a 'non-diagnostic' serum alphafetoprotein level (50-500 ng ml-1) were examined by isoelectric focusing and quantified by densitometric scanning. Ten patients with chronic liver disease and a raised serum alphafetoprotein level (50-500 ng ml-1), but with no evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma, were also studied. Isoelectric focusing revealed characteristic hepatocellular carcinoma bands (bands +II and +III) in 96% patients overall, and 100% of those with levels of total alphafetoprotein greater than 100 ng ml-1. No such bands were seen among ten subjects with cirrhosis but without hepatocellular carcinoma. Bands that are characteristic of hepatocellular carcinoma (bands +II or +III) are seen in the great majority of hepatocellular carcinoma patients; their absence makes a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma extremely unlikely.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories
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Chan AT, Ho S, Yim AP, Chang AR, Cheng P, Yuen J, Leung TW, Johnson PJ. Primary mediastinal malignant germ cell tumour. Single institution experience in Chinese patients and correlation with specific alpha-fetoprotein bends. Acta Oncol 1996; 35:221-7. [PMID: 8639319 DOI: 10.3109/02841869609098505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Ten Chinese patients were reviewed, all with mediastinal germ cell tumours and treated in our centre during the past 8 years. Three patients with pure seminomas were given chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. AB achieved complete remission with no relapse. Seven patients with non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT) were given chemotherapy, with or without surgery. Two patients with rapid decay of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels (half-life less than or equal to 7.2 days) during chemotherapy achieved complete remission with no relapse. Five patients with prolonged decay of AFP levels (half-life > 7.2 days) failed to achieve complete remission with initial chemotherapy and all but one patient died between 5 and 9 months later. One patient developed acute megakaryocytic leukaemia. Using isoelectric focusing, AFP bands specific to NSGCT were quantified, and comparison was made with the total AFP in five cases. In each case the change in NSGCT-specific AFP concentration in response to therapy closely paralleled that of total AFP. Estimation of NSGCT-specific AFP offers no apparent advantage in monitoring disease response or progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- A T Chan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong
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