Abstract
Serum γ-glutimyl transpeptidase obtained from patients with various hepatobiliary diseases was fractionated by polyacrylamide gradient gel slab electrophoresis to study the specific patterns of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase fractions in hepatic cancer.
On zymograms of normal serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, total of 10 fractions were observed. These fractions were designated I to X from the anode. Extra three fractions (I′, I″ and II′) were also recognized in the sera from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.Among those extra fractions, fraction I′ which showed slightly but significantly slower moving than fraction I was the most specific and found in about 55% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Fractions I″ and II′ were also relatively specific and each of them was observed in about 34% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Fractions V to IX were not observed in many cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. Fraction I′ is thought to be an isozyme being specific to serum of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Both I″ and II′ were also thought to be hepatoma-related fractions of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. They may be therefore useful for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
