Abstract | BACKGROUND/AIMS: METHODS: RESULTS: Plasma alphaFT activities (mean+/-SD, pmol/ml/h) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis and normal controls were 435+/-271, 490+/-290, 590+/-209 and 380+/-133, respectively. AlphaFT levels in hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic liver diseases were increased compared with that in normal controls. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between plasma alphaFT activity and fucosylation index of AFP (r=0.34, p= 0.0032) in 60 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, in which increments of serum AFP were observed. When the tentative cutoff value of fucosylation index was set at 18%, which corresponded to the cutoff value to discriminate between hepatocellular carcinoma and non-neoplastic liver diseases in our previous study, the plasma alphaFT activity in hepatocellular carcinoma patients whose fucosylation index was more than 18% (n=32, 523+/-324 pmol/ml/h) was higher than that in hepatocellular carcinoma patients whose fucosylation index was equal to or less than 18% (n=28, 383+/-229) (p=0.055). An increment of the plasma levels of alphaFT occurred in accordance with an advancement of hepatocellular carcinoma stages. Tissue aFT activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (175+/-178 pmol/mg/h) was higher than those in surrounding noncancerous liver (144+/-134) and in normal liver (79+/-19). The mean alphaFT activities in well-, moderately- and poorly-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma were 38+/-0.7, 177+/-182 and 219+/-189, respectively, and they tended to increase with dedifferentiation in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that alphaFT is responsible for the formation of the fucosylated species of AFP in hepatocellular carcinoma and suggests that the measurement of alphaFT provides a possible aid in the evaluation of the degree of advancement in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
|
Authors | Y Mita, Y Aoyagi, T Suda, H Asakura |
Journal | Journal of hepatology
(J Hepatol)
Vol. 32
Issue 6
Pg. 946-54
(Jun 2000)
ISSN: 0168-8278 [Print] Netherlands |
PMID | 10898315
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
Chemical References |
- Biomarkers
- Lectins
- Plant Lectins
- Protein Precursors
- alpha-Fetoproteins
- lentil lectin
- Fucose
- acarboxyprothrombin
- Prothrombin
- Fucosyltransferases
- Glycoprotein 6-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase
|
Topics |
- Aged
- Biomarkers
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
(blood, pathology)
- Female
- Fucose
(metabolism)
- Fucosyltransferases
(blood, metabolism)
- Humans
- Lectins
- Liver
(enzymology)
- Liver Neoplasms
(blood, pathology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Staging
- Plant Lectins
- Protein Precursors
(blood)
- Prothrombin
- alpha-Fetoproteins
(metabolism)
|