The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma determined by pattern of AFP bands separated by Con A affinity electrophoresis

Abstract

We analyzed the Con A affinity of serum AFP in patients with a serum AFP concentration greater than 50ng/ml by antibody affinity electrophoresis and Western blotting to distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from benign chronic liver diseases (CLD). Of 164 patients with HCC, 48 (29.3%) had a single band, while 116 (70.7%) had multiple bands. All but three of 65 patients with cirrhosis had a single band. All but one of 32 patients with chronic hepatitis had a single band. We concluded that multiple AFP bands are diagnosis of HCC. This method is a useful assay for distinguishing HCC from CLD.