Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019204 (hepatocellular carcinoma)
 71,386 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Human alpha-fetoproteins were purified from umbilical cord serum and from ascites fluid of a patient with hepatoma by affinity chromatography, and their chemical compositions and terminal sequences were compared. The amino acid compositions of these alpha-fetoproteins were similar and in good agreement with the values reported by other investigators. The COOH-terminal 5-amino acid sequence determined by carboxypeptidase digestion and the NH2-terminal 20-amino acid sequence determined by an automated sequence analyzer revealed that both alpha-fetoproteins had the same terminal sequences of amino acids. The sequence analysis showed that a part of each of the proteins lacked its NH2-terminal residues for one or three amino acids. A small difference in the carbohydrate composition of each alpha-fetoprotein was observed. It was concluded that alpha-fetoproteins from fetal serum and from ascites fluid of a patient with hepatoma had very similar structures.
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PMID:Comparative chemical structures of human alpha-fetoproteins from fetal serum and from ascites fluid of a patient with hepatoma. 7 Nov 98

In a previous study, we demonstrated three variants of human alphafetoprotein by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. In addition, we correlated the capacity of alpha-fetoprotein isolates from various hepatoma and fetal sources to suppress human lymphocyte transformation in vitro with the relative proportion of the electronegative variant, HAFP-3, present in each isolate. We have now isolated alpha-fetoprotein from the serum, ascitic fluid, and saline extract of tumor from a single hepatoma patient and from a homogenate of fetal livers. When tested for their capacity to inhibit human lymphocyte transformation in vitro, tumor and fetal liver alphafetoprotein were found to be extremely potent, serum alphafetoprotein had intermediate potency, and ascitic fluid alpha-fetoprotein was the least potent. Analysis of these isolates by crossed immunoelectrophoresis confirmed the correlation between the proportion of HAFP-3 and the immunosuppressive potency of each isolate. In addition, analysis of these isolates by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels containing 8 M urea revealed further evidence of microheterogeneity; at least six molecular variants were apparent. The proportion of one of these variants, termed HAFP-3a, in each isolate was correlated with the immunosupressive potency of the isolate. The sialic acid content of the various alpha-fetoprotein isolates did not vary significantly. Our data suggest that a postsynthetic modification of alphafetoprotein occurs, probably after secretion, which reduces immunosuppressive potency by converting the active electronegative species to an inactive electropositive form. This modification probably involves a charged moiety other than sialic acid on the molecule.
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PMID:A postsynthetic modification of human alpha-fetoprotein controls its immunosuppressive potency. 7 37

The levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were determined with radioimmunoassay in 63 samples of either pleural or peritoneal effusions. All samples were collected from 53 patients suspected for malignancy and were also studied with the routine cytological techniques. Elevated levels of CEA (above 20 ng/ml) were found in 14 out of 29 cytologically positive samples, in none of 6 cytologically suspected and of 14 cytologically negative samples. The highest levels of CEA (above 1,000 ng/ml) were found in samples from patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas, while negative results were most often found in lymphoreticular and ovarian malignancies. Elevated levels of AFP (above 5 ng/ml) were found in 9 samples (5 cytologically positive and 4 negative). Five of these exudates were negative for CEA. Positive results of AFP were most frequently found in samples derived from patients with secondary or primary liver tumours. The highest levels of AFP (6 and 30 ng/ml), were determined in samples of two hepatoma patients. The combined cytological and radioimmunological studies suggested malignancy in 52 out of 63 samples while cytology alone detected either neoplastic or suspected cells in 35 samples only.
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PMID:The correlation of routine cytology with the contents of carcinoembryonic antigen and alpha-fetoprotein in pleural and peritoneal effusions. 7 84

Three ascites hepatoma cells of the rat, AH-41B, AH-34, and AH-64B, which had been determined in vivo as alpha-fetoprotein-negative, were cultivated in vitro in a medium containing adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP), cyclic dibutyryl-AMP, or theophylline. The concentration of alpha-fetoprotein in culture media was measured by the 125 I-radioimmunoassay. Results demonstrated that the AH-41B cells produced alpha-fetoprotein in vitor, the concentration of which being elevated in the media with three substances, while the remaining AH-34 and AH-64B cells did not. A comment was made on the producibility of alpha-fetoprotein in the so-called alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatoma cells.
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PMID:Production of alpha-fetoprotein by cultured rat ascites hepatoma cells determined in vivo as alpha-fetoprotein-negative. 7 15

A method for the purification of human alpha1-fetoprotein from the ascites fluid of a hepatoma-bearing patient is described that is capable of yielding large quantities of pure alpha1-fetoprotein within a relatively short period of time. The technique is based entirely on the physicochemical properties of the alpha1-fetoprotein molecule and uses sequential purification steps: ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50, molecular-sieve chromatography on Sephadex G-200, negative-affinity chromatography on Sepharose-Blue Dextran, positivepaffinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose and, finally, molecular-sieve chromatography on Sephadex G-100. The efficiency of the entire procedure in its present form is 15% of the alpha1-fetoprotein activity of the starting preparation from ascites fluid. The purity of the final product was shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, radioimmunoelectrophoresis, and determinations of the NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal amino acid residues of the alphs1-fetoprotein isolated. Amino acid analysis of the final product revealed a composition very similar to those reported for alpha-fetoprotein preparations that have been previously isolated by the use of immunochemical technology.
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PMID:Physicochemical approach to the purification of human alpha1-fetoprotein from the ascites fluid of a hepatoma-bearing patient. 7 14

The present paper describes the present status of clinical tests for cancer in Japan. Since no cancer-specific substance has been found so far the clinical tests for cancer at present are always quantitative but not qualitative. Among these substances, alpha-fetoprotein is one of the most specific substances for cancer and its test is essential for diagnosis of hepatoma beins used worldwide. AFP is a specific product of liver cancer cells. The measurement of carcinoembryonic antigen in patient blood is a hopeful method for cancer diagnosis. This substance is not specifically produced by cancer cells, but the phenomenon of appearance in bloodstream appears to be cancer-specific. This may reflect the invasion of blood vessels in tissues such as colorectum, lung, etc., by infiltration of cancer cell. This is the reason for the appearance of CEA in a wide variety of cancers. There are many other clinical tests at present but these are only secondary aids for the diagnosis of cancer. This is the reason why the description concentrates mostly on AFP and CEA. The companies manufacturing the kits for these tests in Japan are also listed in this paper.
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PMID:The development of laboratory tests for cancer in Japan with special reference to carcinoembryonic proteins. 7 74

Five monkeys were treated ip with N-nitrosodiethylamine (DENA), and one was treated with 1-nitrosopiperidine (PIP), starting within 2 months of birth, until hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed. All animals except the PIP-treated monkey had much elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) values. Fresh, minced, biopsy-derived tumor was cultured with L-[14C]leucine and L-[14C]lysine. Synthesis of AFP was determined by radioimmunoassay and by specifically precipitable [14C]AFP. Good agreement between these two parameters was obtained for the 4 DENA-induced tumors synthesizing AFP in culture. Tumor from 1 DENA-treated monkey did not synthesize AFP. In addition, neither normal liver nor tumor from the PIP-treated monkey showed AFP synthesis. Rates of synthesis were 0.37-5.50 ng AFP/mg tumor/day, or 0.0012-0.0183 pg AFP/cell/day (if one assumes 3.0 X 10(5) cells/mg tissue) over 48 or 72 hours. Different nodules from the same animal had similar rates of synthesis. For tumors that synthesized AFP in culture, a positive correlation was generally found between rate of synthesis and serum AFP level. The rate of in vitro AFP synthesis observed was lower than that of immunoglobulin synthesis in human myeloma or of AFP synthesis in a rat HCC, but it was close to the estimated rate of AFP synthesis in a monkey HCC line in long-term culture.
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PMID:In vitro alpha-fetoprotein synthesis by monkey hepatocellular carcinoma. 7 69

In 31 patients with an initial diagnosis of cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was detected after a clinical follow-up of 8 months to 14 years with an average of 59 months. They had had no scintigraphic and biochemical abnormalities suggestive of HCC at the beginning. The follow-up period before the detection of carcinoma was shorter in patients positive for hepatitis B surface antigen compared with those negative for hepatitis B surface antigen. Analyses of clinical data during the follow-up and liver scans made shortly before tumor detection suggested that in most of these patients HCC became discernible relatively early in the course of cirrhosis or long before cirrhosis reached an advanced stage. A sharp rise in serum alpha-fetoprotein level proved highly diagnostic in 11, it remained low throughout in 7, and tumor was already unresectable in the majority. Although continuous and regular check for alpha-fetoprotein is imperative in patients with chronic liver disease, particularly in those with hepatitis B surface antigenemia, additional diagnostic tools are necessary for the detection of small HCC in its resectable stage.
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PMID:Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma during a clinical follow-up of chronic liver disease: observations in 31 patients. 7 17

Doxorubicin (60 mg/m2 at 3-weekly intervals to a maximum total of 550 mg/m2) induced clinical remission in 14 (32%) of 44 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. In 3 of those who responded, hepatic arteriography showed clearing of the previously extensive tumour circulation, and in a 4th there was disappearance of the tumour on serial ultrasound examinations. A fall in serum-alpha-fetoprotein level after the initial injection of doxorubicin predicted a favourable clinical response, whereas the level continued to rise in patients who did not respond.
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PMID:Induction of remission in hepatocellular carcinoma with doxorubicin. 7 32

Localization of alpha-fetoprotein (alpha-FP) has been followed in hepatal tissue and tumors during induction of primary hepatomas with the aid of 0.12% 3'-Me-DAB (3'-methyl-4-dimethylammoazobenzene) in Wistar rats. The indirect immunofluorescence method was used for the localization of alpha-FP positive cells. During the course of carcinogenesis, alpha-FP in serum was detected by means of the crossing over immunoelectrophoresis. This study has yielded the following results: Alpha FP positive cells resembling small hepatocytes occurred dispersed and in groups beginning with the 5th week of a carcinogenic diet until the appearance of tumors. No alpha-FP positive oval cells have been found. Alpha-FP positive cells were always found in rats with alpha-FP positive serum, but they were rarely present in rats with alpha-FP negative serum. From the 10th week, tumors of the cholangiohepatoma type began to be formed in which variously scattered alpha-FP positive cells of the type of small hepatocytes were present, with the serum being negative. Between week 14 and 21 hepatoma nodules began to be formed. At week 21 frequent alpha-FP positive cells close to normal hepatocytes were observed both singly and in groups. These are considered to be the sites of developing tumor nodules. In all the hepatoma nodules, the number of positive tumorous cells and the intensity of fluorescence proved to be directly proportional to alpha-FP concentration in serum.
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PMID:Localization of alpha-fetoprotein by immunofluorescent method during induction of rat liver tumors by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene. 7 94


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