AFP L3% - A New Diagnostic tool for the detection of Hepato Cellular carcinoma>

AFP L3% and Hepato Cellular Carcinoma

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) displays differential affinity to lectin Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) compared to that from chronic hepatitis/liver cirrhosis. According to their binding capability to LCA, total AFP can be separated into three different glycoforms, AFP-L1, AFP-L2, and AFP-L3. AFP-L1 is the non-LCA-bound fraction, which constitutes the major glycoform of AFP in serum of chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. AFP-L3 is the LCA-bound fraction of AFP. It has been reported that malignant liver cells produce AFP-L3, even when HCC is at its early stages, and especially when the tumor mass is supplied by the hepatic artery.(1)

When the total
AFP
level increases slightly (e.g. to 5-20 ng/ml), a measurement of
AFP
-
L3
% may provide additional useful information for monitoring NSGCT patients and in distinguishing falsely elevated
AFP
. (2)

T

he incidence of HCC was significantly higher in patients with elevated AFP-L3% than in those with elevated AFP. The high specificity of AFP-L3% persisted among patients with elevated AFP (20-200 ng/mL) and suggests that AFP-L3% has clinical utility in HCV patients with AFP of 20-200 ng/mL. (3)

Ref:	(1),
	(2), (3) Wikipedia