Can alpha-1-acid glycoprotein affect the outcome of treatment in a cancer patient?

Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a glycoprotein found in the alpha-1 globulin fraction of human plasma proteins. AGP is an important representative of acute-phase proteins. Although numerous articles have been devoted to AGP, its exact biological function remains obscure. AGP levels increase with a number of diseases. One of them is a tumor disease. In our paper, we discuss the role of increased AGP levels in cancer patients. We deal with the role of AGP as a drug-binding protein and its effect on the efficacy of chemotherapy in oncological patients. Other problems that are discussed in our paper include the role of AGP as an immunomodulatory protein and its relationship to angiogenesis because angiogenesis plays an important role in the progression of cancer (Ref. 57). Keywords: alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, orosomucoid, cancer, disease marker, immunomodulatory protein,drug-binding protein.

Alpha-2-macroglobulin and hyaluronic acid as fibromarkers in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: Liver fibrosis is the final common pathway of chronic liver diseases of various etiology. From the practical standpoint, it would be ideal to have a noninvasive fibromarker. The aim of our study was to investigate the levels of alpha-2-macroglobulin, potential fibromarker, in correlation to histological staging and another potential fibromarker, hyaluronic acid, in patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: Population groups in this study consisted of 51 healthy volunteers and 54 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Liver biopsies were obtained under ultrasound guidance. Alpha-2-macroglobulin was determined by electroimmunodiffusion and hyaluronic acid with enzyme-linked binding protein assay. RESULTS: Both potential fibromarkers, alpha-2-macroglobulin and hyaluronic acid, were increased in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The alpha-2-macroglobulin levels were not significantly increased in the groups F0-F1. In the groups F2-F4, alpha-2-macroglobulin levels were significantly higher than in the control group. The changes of hyaluronic acid were similar to changes of alpha-2-macroglobulin. Regression analysis showed a significant correlation between hyaluronic acid and alpha-2-macroglobulin levels. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of our study, it can be concluded that alpha-2-macroglobulin and hyaluronic acid might be useful markers of liver fibrosis (Tab. 2, Ref. 15).