Increased asialo-alpha-fetoprotein in patients with alpha-fetoprotein-producing tumors: demonstration by affinity electrophoresis with erythroagglutinating phytohemagglutinin of Phaseolus vulgaris lectin.

Affinity electrophoresis of human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) with the erythroagglutinating phytohemagglutinin of Phaseolus vulgaris (E-PHA) gave up to five resolved bands (y, h, i, l and a; given in the order of decreasing affinity for E-PHA); band a having no affinity and bands y and h representing asialo-AFP's. The proportion of band y increased in extrahepatic tumors producing AFP, including yolk sac tumor, and of band h, in addition, in hepatocellular carcinoma. The proportion of either band y or h (or y + h) increased, over the means plus 2 standard deviations of the respective bands of cord serum AFP, in 20 out of 25 cases (80%) of hepatocellular carcinoma, including cell lines, and in all the patients with extrahepatic malignancy. Band i was detected in more than half the cases with malignancy, although the extent of its increases was much less. Band a appeared only in limited cases. None of the hepatitis and cirrhotic patients showed increased proportions of band y or h (or y + h), indicating the usefulness of the determination of asialo-AFP for the discrimination between benign and malignant liver diseases.