PMID: 8611436Apr 1, 1996Paper

Isoelectric focusing of alphafetoprotein in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma--frequency of specific banding patterns at non-diagnostic serum levels

British Journal of Cancer
S HoP J Johnson

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 hep...Continue Reading

Citations

Dec 5, 1998·World Journal of Surgery·A K Li
May 8, 2004·The Cancer Journal·Thomas R O'BrienMingdong Zhang
May 16, 2000·Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry·A MoriyamaM Otsuki
Mar 11, 2005·Best Practice & Research. Clinical Gastroenterology·Man-Fung Yuen, Ching-Lung Lai
Jun 10, 2008·Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry·Evi N Debruyne, Joris R Delanghe

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