Concanavalin A affinity of alpha-fetoprotein. Its use in differentiating tumors.

Using affinity chromatography on concanavalin A Sepharose, the authors studied the molecular heterogeneity of the serum alpha-fetoprotein of 53 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, 16 patients with metastatic tumors to the liver, and 16 patients with germ cell tumors. Mean concanavalin binding of alpha-fetoprotein in the sera of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was 79%, whereas the mean binding in metastatic tumors was 52% and that of germ cell tumors was 45%. This striking molecular variation of the alpha-fetoprotein produced by these different tumors is helpful in the clinical distinction of these tumors.