Abstract
Alphafetoprotein (AFP) is an oncofetal glycoprotein that frequently reappears in sera of patients affected by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and yolk-sac tumours (YST). In these cases AFP determination represents a useful marker for monitoring the therapeutic response and the clinical evolution of the neoplastic disease. AFP is a heterogeneous molecule with respect to the carbohydrate moiety and the different AFP glycoforms can be separated and characterized by their affinity for lectins, such as Concanavalin A (con A), and Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA). Increased production of LCA-reactive AFP has been proposed as a specific and early marker for HCC, while Con A non-reactive AFP could be a marker for YST and gastrointestinal malignancies. In this review the molecular basis of AFP microheterogeneity and the clinical application of AFP isoforms will be discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1491-1499 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Anticancer Research |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 1995 |
Keywords
- Alphafetoprotein (AFP)
- Germ cell tumours (GCT)
- Glycoid isoforms
- Hepatic diseases
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cancer Research
- Oncology