Relationship between Fucosylated ?-fetoprotein Levels and ?-L-fucosidase Activities in Sera from Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

The increased binding of serum a-fetoprotein (AFP) from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to fucose-recognizing lectins has been reported. In order to study the enzymatic basis of this alteration, the serum activities of a-L-fucosidase (AFU) and fucosylated AFP (F-AFP) were determined in serum samples from 90 patients with HCC. Serum F-AFP levels were not related with serum AFU activities in HCC patients. When HCC patients grouped according to AFU activities were analyzed, the mean F-AFP level in 47 patients with a AFU activity below 550 nmol. ml-1. h-1 was 40%?23%, while the corresponding value for 43 patients with a AFU activity above 550 nmol . ml-1. h-1 was 45%?22%. No statistical significance was found between these values. The results indicate that changes in sugar chain structure of AFP in HCC patients do not result from increased or decreased activities of serum AFU.