Lectin-affinity electrophoresis for the detection of AFP microheterogeneities in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Our aims were to ascertain the analytical performance and diagnostic efficiency of a new lectin-affinity electrophoresis and antibody-affinity blotting method for separating and identifying fucosylated AFP. We also compared the diagnostic efficiency of fucosylated AFP with that of total AFP in the early diagnosis of neoplastic liver diseases. In 32 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and in 19 subjects with benign liver diseases, total AFP was assayed using an enzyme immunoassay, while AFP fractions (L1, L2 and to cathode L3 fucosylated) were separated using lectin-affinity electrophoresis followed by antibody-affinity blotting. No significant difference was found between the total AFP values of patients with HCC and those of patients with benign liver disease (p > 0.05). In patients with HCC the fucosylation index of AFP (L3%) was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than that in patients with benign liver disease. Our findings suggest that fucosylated AFP is of diagnostic value in differentiating between hepatocellular carcinoma and benign hepatic diseases, and that its measurement may be useful in the early detection of hepatocarcinoma in patients with chronic liver disease.