Reference change values for lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive α-fetoprotein and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive α-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) have been routinely used as serological tumor markers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for surveillance. The aims of this study were: (i) to determine the biological variation of AFP-L3 and DCP in patients with chronic hepatitis C; and (ii) to calculate the reference change values (RCVs) of AFP-L3 and DCP.

Methods: Ten patients with cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and without HCC were enrolled in the study.

Clinical utility of highly sensitive Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with alpha-fetoprotein <20 ng/mL.

The Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) has been used as a diagnostic and prognostic marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The analytical sensitivity of a conventional method for AFP-L3% is not sufficient in patients with a low AFP level. This study was performed to determine the clinical utility of a newly developed highly sensitive AFP-L3% (hs-AFP-L3%) assay in patients with an AFP level <20 ng/mL.

Clinical application of a lectin-antibody ELISA to measure fucosylated haptoglobin in sera of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Background: Recent advanced techniques in glycobiology have produced a number of tumor marker candidates. As a result from the glycomic approach, we found that fucosylated haptoglobin in sera was a possible tumor marker for pancreatic cancer (PC). Although Aleuria aurantia lectin (AAL) blotting can detect fucosylated haptoglobin, it is difficult to quantify fucosylated haptoglobin precisely.

Utility of Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of alpha-fetoprotein and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin, alone or in combination, as biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) and Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) are surveillance markers used to detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Japan. This study evaluated their utility, alone or in combination, in a North American population.

Methods: Patients with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis were followed up prospectively for 2 years.

Development of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) measuring reagent using the LiBASys clinical analyzer.

Background: Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein ratio (AFP-L3) and total alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are tumor markers useful for diagnosing and determining the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is a real need for measurement of these three markers on a one-assay platform.

Methods: A method of DCP measurement in human serum was developed using liquid binding assay (LBA), which enables rapid antigen-antibody reaction and bound/free separation on the LiBASys clinical analyzer.

Clinical evaluation of lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin in histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States.

There is no established clinical role for the lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3%) and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) in the management of the U.S. hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient population.