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Mikrochimica Acta Jun 2018An immunosensor is described for the voltammetric determination of α-fetoprotein. It is making use of an AuNP-dendrimer conjugate and an ionic liquid. A gold electrode...
An immunosensor is described for the voltammetric determination of α-fetoprotein. It is making use of an AuNP-dendrimer conjugate and an ionic liquid. A gold electrode was first modified with chitosan. Then, the AuNP-dendrimer conjugate was covalently immobilized on the electrode. Following this, an ionic liquid was placed on the electrode via formation of a covalent bond between the amino groups of PAMAM and the aldehyde groups of an ionic liquid containing ferrocene. Thus, the redox probe ferrocene becomes immobilized on the electrode surface. PAMAM increases the amount of ferrocene immobilized on the electrode due to its globular shape and rich amino groups. The use of AuNPs improves the conductivity of the electrode. The modified electrode was applied to the determination of α-fetoprotein in human serum and has a linear response that covers the 0.05 to 30 ng mL α-fetoprotein concentration range, with a detection limit of 0.02 ng mL. This assay is stable, selective and reproducible. It is perceived to provide a powerful tool for the early detection of cancer markers. Graphical abstract Schematic of a voltammetric immunoassay for α-fetoprotein based on a gold nanoparticle/dendrimer conjugate and ionic liquids anchored with both aldehyde and ferrocene. Chit: chitosan; GA: glutaraldehyde ; PAMAM: G4 polyamidoaminic dendrimers; AuNP: Au nanoparticle; Fc: ferrocene; IL: ionic liquid. PB: phosphate buffer solution.
Topics: Animals; Dendrimers; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Ferrous Compounds; Gold; Humans; Immunoassay; Ionic Liquids; Limit of Detection; Metal Nanoparticles; Metallocenes; alpha-Fetoproteins
PubMed: 29961150
DOI: 10.1007/s00604-018-2886-3 -
Medical Science Monitor : International... Dec 2016BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to calculate 95% reference intervals and double-sided limits of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)...
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to calculate 95% reference intervals and double-sided limits of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) according to the CLSI EP28-A3 guideline. MATERIAL AND METHODS Serum AFP and CEA values were measured in samples from 26 000 healthy subjects in the Shuyang area receiving general health checkups. The 95% reference intervals and upper limits were calculated by using MedCalc. RESULTS We provided continuous reference intervals from 20 years old to 90 years old for AFP and CEA. The reference intervals were: AFP, 1.31-7.89 ng/ml (males) and 1.01-7.10 ng/ml (females); CEA, 0.51-4.86 ng/ml (males) and 0.35-3.45ng/ml (females). AFP and CEA were significantly positively correlated with age in both males (r=0.196 and r=0.198) and females (r=0.121 and r=0.197). CONCLUSIONS Different races or populations and different detection systems may result in different reference intervals for AFP and CEA. Continuous reference intervals of age changes are more accurate than age groups.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoembryonic Antigen; Female; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Reference Values; alpha-Fetoproteins
PubMed: 27941709
DOI: 10.12659/msm.901861 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Jan 2016Morphological criteria have always been considered the benchmark for selecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients for liver transplantation (LT). These criteria,... (Review)
Review
Morphological criteria have always been considered the benchmark for selecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients for liver transplantation (LT). These criteria, which are often inappropriate to express the tumor's biological behavior and aggressiveness, offer only a static view of the disease burden and are frequently unable to correctly stratify the tumor recurrence risk after LT. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and its progression as well as AFP-mRNA, AFP-L3%, des-γ-carboxyprothrombin, inflammatory markers and other serological tests appear to be correlated with post-transplant outcomes. Several other markers for patient selection including functional imaging studies such as (18)F-FDG-PET imaging, histological evaluation of tumor grade, tissue-specific biomarkers, and molecular signatures have been outlined in the literature. HCC growth rate and response to pre-transplant therapies can further contribute to the transplant evaluation process of HCC patients. While AFP, its progression, and HCC response to pre-transplant therapy have already been used as a part of an integrated prognostic model for selecting patients, the utility of other markers in the transplant setting is still under investigation. This article intends to review the data in the literature concerning predictors that could be included in an integrated LT selection model and to evaluate the importance of biological aggressiveness in the evaluation process of these patients.
Topics: Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Liver Transplantation; Patient Selection; Positron-Emission Tomography; Prognosis; Protein Precursors; Prothrombin; RNA, Messenger; alpha-Fetoproteins
PubMed: 26755873
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i1.232 -
Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi =... Feb 2020Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth world's largest malignant tumor, which seriously endangers human health. The commonly used treatment effects are not... (Review)
Review
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth world's largest malignant tumor, which seriously endangers human health. The commonly used treatment effects are not satisfactory and the mortality rate is still high. Therefore, there is an urgent need for effective adjuvant treatment to improve patient survival. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) acts as the most common tumor marker used for HCC diagnosis. Studies have shown that alpha-fetoprotein can self-induce T cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and its immunogenic antigenic epitopes provide new ideas for the study of AFP vaccine. Presently, a variety of AFP vaccines have been developed, such as DC vaccine, DNA vaccine, and peptide vaccine, which have been successfully applied to HCC mouse model and phase I /II clinical trials, with evident results. This article discusses the molecular mechanism, categories and application prospects of AFP vaccine in HCC.
Topics: Animals; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cancer Vaccines; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Mice; alpha-Fetoproteins
PubMed: 32164075
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1007-3418.2020.02.018 -
Movement Disorders : Official Journal... Mar 2021
Topics: Cerebellar Ataxia; Genes, Recessive; Humans; Movement Disorders; alpha-Fetoproteins
PubMed: 33749916
DOI: 10.1002/mds.28520 -
Ginekologia Polska 2022Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a serum protein, which is characteristic of the fetal development period and a well-known oncological marker. The predominance of AFP among...
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a serum protein, which is characteristic of the fetal development period and a well-known oncological marker. The predominance of AFP among serum proteins is common in fetal life, whereas after birthing its functions are gradually taken over by albumins. An understanding of the mechanism of AFP transfer between fetus and mother has led to the development of screening tests for identifying neural tube defects and Down's syndrome. Currently, the knowledge on patophysiology and the possible importance of AFP in perinatology and fetal medicine extends far beyond those 2 disease states. Throughout the 50 years of research on AFP, there has been dynamic progress of diagnostic techniques, from the qualitative ones that are used solely for scientific studies to the widely used radioimmunoassays and immunoenzymatic assays (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, chemiluminescence immunoassay, time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay). Some genetic mutations cause complete inhibition of AFP production by the fetus. This affects the results of screening tests during pregnancy, and also leads to constantly high levels of AFP in adults, which are not linked to oncogenesis.
Topics: Pregnancy; Adult; Female; Humans; Prenatal Diagnosis; Perinatology; alpha-Fetoproteins; Down Syndrome; Fetus
PubMed: 35072257
DOI: 10.5603/GP.a2021.0226 -
Analytica Chimica Acta Oct 2023Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, and it seriously threatens human life and health. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), as a carcinogenic glycoprotein,...
BACKGROUND
Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, and it seriously threatens human life and health. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), as a carcinogenic glycoprotein, is an important serum marker for detecting liver cancer. Therefore, the accurate and sensitive determination of AFP is crucial for the early diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer. To this end, a label-free fluorescence aptasensor for detecting AFP based on the use of a novel organic Compound D with an aggregation-induced emission activity and aptamer-modified magnetic microparticles was constructed.
RESULTS
Compound D could combine with the complementary short chain of the aptamer (CSC-Apt) of AFP to form the D/CSC-Apt complex and realize the fluorescence enhancement of Compound D. Then, magnetic particles modified by the Apt of AFP (Apt-FeO) were prepared. When AFP (or nontarget substance) and D/CSC-Apt were successively added to the Apt-FeO solution, Apt-FeO selectively bound to AFP or the D/CSC-Apt complex. Magnetic separation technology showed the changes in the fluorescence intensity of the supernatant. The research results revealed a good linear relationship between the changes in the fluorescence intensity of the supernatant and concentration of AFP within the concentration range of 10-10000 pg mL. The proposed aptasensor could achieve high-sensitivity and high-specificity detection of AFP, and its limit of detection was 3 pg mL (S/N = 3).
SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY
The sensor combines the advantages of high selectivity of Apt, high sensitivity of fluorescence analysis, AIE effect and good water solubility of Compound D, and rapid separation using magnetic separation technology. And it can be directly used for the detection of AFP in actual serum samples with high accuracy, whereas most of the methods reported in the literature can only detect AFP in spiked serum samples.
Topics: Humans; alpha-Fetoproteins; Carcinogens; Fluorometry; Liver Neoplasms; Oligonucleotides; Organic Chemicals
PubMed: 37709445
DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341692 -
Epigenetics Dec 2024Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can greatly improve the survival rate of patients. We aimed to develop a novel marker panel based on cell-free DNA...
Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can greatly improve the survival rate of patients. We aimed to develop a novel marker panel based on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation for the detection of HCC. The differentially methylated CpG sites (DMCs) specific for HCC blood diagnosis were selected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, then validated by the whole genome bisulphite sequencing (WGBS) of 12 paired HCC and paracancerous tissues. The clinical performance of the panel was evaluated using tissue samples [32 HCC, chronic liver disease (CLD), and healthy individuals] and plasma cohorts (173 HCC, 199 CLD, and 98 healthy individuals). The combination of G protein subunit beta 4 (GNB4) and Riplet had the optimal area under the curve (AUC) in seven candidates through TCGA, GEO, and WGBS analyses. In tissue validation, the GNB4 and Riplet showed an AUC of 100% with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for detecting any-stage HCC. In plasma, it demonstrated a high sensitivity of 84.39% at 91.92% specificity, with an AUC of 92.51% for detecting any-stage HCC. The dual-marker panel had a higher sensitivity of 78.26% for stage I HCC than alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) of 47.83%, and a high sensitivity of 70.27% for detecting a single tumour (size ≤3 cm). In conclusion, we developed a novel dual-marker panel that demonstrates high accuracy in detecting HCC, surpassing the performance of AFP testing.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; alpha-Fetoproteins; Liver Neoplasms; Biomarkers, Tumor; DNA Methylation; GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits
PubMed: 38154055
DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2299044 -
Obstetrics and Gynecology Feb 2015To estimate whether alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) can be used to distinguish amniotic fluid absorbed in sanitary pads from other similarly absorbed substances (semen, urine,...
OBJECTIVE
To estimate whether alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) can be used to distinguish amniotic fluid absorbed in sanitary pads from other similarly absorbed substances (semen, urine, and normal vaginal discharge).
METHODS
A prospective cohort study. Urine and amniotic fluid specimens were collected from 52 pregnant women admitted for labor. Semen specimens were collected from 17 men undergoing infertility evaluation. Alpha-fetoprotein concentrations were measured directly from urine, amniotic fluid, and semen and from pads instilled with samples from these specimens. Alpha-fetoprotein concentrations were also measured from pads absorbed with normal vaginal discharge collected from 27 pregnant women.
RESULTS
Alpha-fetoprotein levels in amniotic fluid (245.38 ± 21.03 ng/mL, n = 52) were significantly higher than those measured in maternal urine (0.84 ± 0.17 ng/mL, n = 52, P < .001), or semen (1.52 ± 0.35 ng/mL, n = 17, P < .001). The same trend was seen when AFP was extracted from pads: amniotic fluid levels (19.44 ± 1.98 ng/mL, n=52) were significantly higher than those of urine (undetectable, n=52), semen (undetectable, n = 17), or normal vaginal discharge (0.53 ± 0.16 ng/mL, n = 27, P < .001). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis demonstrated 96.2% sensitivity and 100% specificity for distinguishing the presence of amniotic fluid from normal vaginal discharge on sanitary pads (cutoff 3.88 ng/mL, area under the curve 0.99).
CONCLUSION
When the diagnosis of rupture of membranes is in doubt, AFP levels can assist in differentiating amniotic fluid from other bodily fluids. A method that utilizes sanitary pads and an assay for AFP quantification may be an accurate and convenient way to confirm the diagnosis of rupture of membranes.
Topics: Amniotic Fluid; Female; Humans; Male; Prospective Studies; Semen; Urine; Vaginal Discharge; alpha-Fetoproteins
PubMed: 25569004
DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000000635 -
Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements... 2019Ataxias represent a challenging group of disorders due to significant clinical overlap. Here, we present a patient with early-onset progressive ataxia, polyneuropathy... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Ataxias represent a challenging group of disorders due to significant clinical overlap. Here, we present a patient with early-onset progressive ataxia, polyneuropathy and discuss how elevation of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) narrows the differential diagnosis.
CASE REPORT
Ataxia, polyneuropathy, and mild elevation of AFP are features compatible with ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 2 (AOA2) but also with ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 4 (AOA4). A genetic analysis demonstrated biallelic mutations in senataxin (), confirming the diagnosis of AOA2.
DISCUSSION
Mild elevation of AFP is found in patients with AOA2 and AOA4, and higher levels are commonly seen in ataxia-telangiectasia. AFP is a useful diagnostic tool but not a biomarker for disease progression in AOA2.
Topics: Adult; Biomarkers; Cerebellar Ataxia; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; alpha-Fetoproteins
PubMed: 31656689
DOI: 10.7916/tohm.v0.708