Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Carbohydrate-based measurements on alpha-fetoprotein in the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

  • Glycosylation & Disease Section Special Issue — Blood Glycoconjugates As Markers Of Disease
  • Published:
Glycoconjugate Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a useful marker for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), although this protein also increases moderately in benign liver diseases. The serum concentration of AFP in HCC at the time of initial diagnosis is now lower than before because of advancements in techniques for imaging the liver. The AFP concentration alone cannot distinguish between HCC and benign liver diseases, especially when it is less than 1000 ng ml−1. These circumstances lead to the need to discriminate between these diseases. This has been achieved by determining the carbohydrate structures of AFP by its reactivity withLens culinaris agglutinin (LCA). The percentage of LCA-reactive species of AFP is significantly higher in HCC than in benign liver diseases. The fucosylation of the sugar chain at the innermostN-acetylglucosamine is the molecular basis of this variation. Therefore, the term ‘fucosylation index’ has been introduced to express the percentage of LCA-reactive species of AFP. This index is useful for the diagnosis of HCC even if the carcinoma is at an early stage. Furthermore, it can predict the development of HCC in the follow-up of chronic liver diseases. Thus, the qualitative and quantitative measurements of carbohydrate in AFP provide us with very valuable information for the differential diagnosis of various liver diseases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Okuda K and The liver cancer study group of Japan (1980).Cancer 45:2663–69.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Miyaji T (1977)Gann Monogr 14:179–83.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Abelev GI, Perova S, Khramokova N, Postinikova Z, Irlin Y (1963)Transplantation 1:174–80.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Tatarinov YS (1965)Vopr Med Khim 11:20–24.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Masopust J, Kithier K, Radl J, Koutecky J, Kotal L (1968)Int J Cancer 3:364–73.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Alpert ME, Uriel J, de Nechaud B (1968)N Engl J Med 278:984–86.

    Google Scholar 

  7. O'Conor GI, Tatarinov YS, Abelev GI, Uriel J (1970)Cancer 25:1091–98.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Nishi S, Hirai H (1973)Gann Monogr 14:79–87.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Karvountzis GG, Redeker AG (1974)Intern Med 80:156–60.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Chen D-S, Sung J-L (1977)Cancer 40:779–83.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Alpert E, Feller ER (1978)Gastroenterology 74:856–58.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Yumoto Y, Jinno K, Tokuyama K, Ishimitsu T, Maeda H, Konno T, Iwamoto S, Okuda K (1985)Radiology 154:19–24.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Schwerk WB, Schmitz-Moormann P (1981)Cancer 48:1469–77.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Shinagawa T, Ohto M, Kimura K, Tsunetomi S, Morita M, Saisho H, Tsuchiya Y, Saotome N, Karasawa E, Miki M, Ueno T, Okuda K (1984)Gastroenterology 86:495–502.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Purves LR, MacNab M, Rolle M, Bersohn I (1969)S Afr Med J 43:1194–96.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Smith CJ, Kelleher PC, (1973)Biochim Biophys Acta 317:231–35.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Alpert E, Drysdale JW, Isselbacher KJ, Schur PH (1972)J Biol Chem 247:3792–98.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Gustine DL, Zimmerman EF (1973)Biochem J 132:541–51.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Purves LR, Merwe EVD, Bersohn I (1970)Lancet 2:464–65.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Bayard B, Kerchaert J-P (1977)Biochem Biophys Res Commun 77:489–95.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Smith CJ, Morris HP, Kelleher PC (1977)Cancer Res 37:2651–56.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Smith CJP, Kelleher PC, Belanger L, Dallaire L (1979)Br Med J i:920–21.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ruoslahti E, Pekkala A, Comings DE (1979)Br Med J ii:768–69.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Toftager-Larsen K, Kjaersgaard E, Jacobsen JC, Nøgaard-Pedersen B (1980)Clin Chem 26:1656–59.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Buamah PK, Taylor P, Ward AM (1981)Clin Chem 27:1658–60.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ishiguro T, Sakaguchi H, Sugitachi I (1983)Am J Reprod Immunol 3:61–64.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Ruoslahti E, Engvall E, Pekkala A, Seppälä M (1978)Int J Cancer 22:515–20.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Breborowicz J, Mackiewicz A, Breborowicz D (1981)Scand J Immunol 14:15–20.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Aoyagi Y, Suzuki Y, Isemura M, Soga K, Ozaki T, Ichida T, Inoue K, Sasaki H, Ichida F (1984)Gann 75:809–15.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Buamah PK, Harris R, James OFW, Skillen AW (1986)Clin Chem 32:2083–84.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Taketa K, Hirai H (1989)Electrophoresis 10:562–67.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Smith CJP, Kelleher PC (1980).Biochim Biophys Acta 605:1–32.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Taketa K (1990)Hepatology 12:1420–32.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Aoyagi Y (1994)Int J Oncology 4:369–83.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan (1987)Cancer 60:1400–11.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan (1988)Acta Hepatol Jpn 29:1619–26.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan (1993)Acta Hepatol Jpn 30:805–13.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Alpert E (1975)Clin Chim Acta 58:77–83.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Bisceglie AMD, Hoofnagle JH (1989)Cancer 64; 2117–20.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Lehmann F-G, Wegener T (1979) InCarcino-Embryonic Proteins, Vol I, (Lehmann F-G ed.), pp. 219–31. Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press.

  41. Morinaga T, Sakai M, Wegmann TG, Tamaoki T (1983)Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 80:4604–8.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Gibbs PEM, Zielinski R, Boyd C, Dugaiczyk A (1987)Biochemistry 26:1332–43.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Pucci P, Siciliano R, Malorni A, Marino A, Marino G, Tecce MF, Ceccarini C, Terrana B (1990)Biochemistry 30:5061–66.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Yoshima H, Mizuochi T, Ishii M, Kobata A (1980)Cancer Res 40:4276–81.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Yamashita K, Hitoi A, Tsuchida Y, Nishi S, Kobata A (1983)Cancer Res 43:4691–95.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Aoyagi Y, Isemura M, Yosizawa Z, Suzuki Y, Sekine C, Ono T, Ichida F (1985)Biochim Biophys Acta 830:217–23.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Kornfeld K, Reitman ML, Kornfeld R (1981)J Biol Chem 256:6633–40.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Baenziger JU, Fiete D (1979)J Biol Chem 254:2400–7.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Hase S, Ibuki T, Ikenaka T (1984)J Biochem 95:197–203.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Yamamoto S, Hase S, Fukuda S, Sano O, Ikenaka T (1989)J Biochem 105:547–55.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Tomiya N, Awaya J, Kurono M, Endo S, Arata T, Takahashi N (1988)Anal Biochem 171:73–90.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Aoyagi Y, Suzuki Y, Igarashi K, Saitoh A, Oguro M, Yokota T, Mori S, Suda T, Isemura M, Asakura H (1993)Br J Cancer 67:486–92.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Aoyagi Y, Isemura M, Suzuki Y, Sekine C, Soga K, Ozaki T, Ichida F (1985)Lancet ii:1353–54.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Aoyagi Y, Suzuki Y, Isemura M, Nomoto M, Sekine C, Igarashi K, Ichida F (1988)Cancer 61:769–74.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Aoyagi Y, Suzuki Y, Igarashi K, Saitoh A, Ogura M, Yokota T, Mori S, Nomoto M, Isemura M, Asakura H (1991)Cancer 67:2390–94.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Aoyagi Y, Isemura M, Suzuki Y, Sekine C, Soga K, Ozaki T, Ichida F (1986)Lancet i:210.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Aoyagi Y, Saitoh A, Suzuki Y, Igarashi K, Ogura M, Yokota T, Mori S, Suda T, Isemura M, Asakura H (1993)Hepatology 17:50–52.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Sato Y, Nakata K, Kato Y, Shima M, Ishii N, Koji T, Taketa K, Endo Y, Nagataki S (1993)N Engl J Med 328:1802–6.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Endo Y (1992) InPrimary liver cancer in Japan, (Tobe T, Kameda H, Okudaira M, Ohto M, Endo Y, Mito M, Okamoto E, Tanikawa K, Kojiro M eds):Springer-Verlag pp. 163–173.

  60. Sekine C, Aoyagi Y, Suzuki Y, Ichida F (1987)Br J Cancer 56:371–75.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Saitoh A, Aoyagi Y, Asakura H (1993)Arch Biochem Biophys 303:281–87.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Yamashita K, Koide N, Endo T, Iwaki Y, Kobata A (1989)J Biol Chem 264:2415–23.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Campion B, Leger D, Wieruszeski JM, Montreuil J, Spik G (1989).Eur J Biochem 184:405–13.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Suzuki Y, Aoyagi Y, Muramatsu M, Isemura M, Ichida F (1987)Br J Cancer 55:147–52.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Suzuki Y, Aoyagi Y, Muramatsu M, Igarashi K, Saitoh A, Oguro M, Isemura M, Asakura H (1990)Ann Clin Biochem 27:121–28.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Bellet DH, Wands JR, Isselbacher KJ, Bohuon C (1984)Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 81:3869–73.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Third Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine, 757 Asahimachi-Dori 1-Bancho, 951, Niigata, Japan

    Yutaka Aoyagi

Authors
  1. Yutaka Aoyagi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aoyagi, Y. Carbohydrate-based measurements on alpha-fetoprotein in the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Glycoconjugate J 12, 194–199 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00731319

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00731319

Keywords

Search

Navigation