• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.959-963
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• 2015

Purpose: To find parameters that can increase alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) sensitivity and so help in accurate diagnosis and rapid management of hepatocullular carcinoma (HCC), as AFP has limited utility of distinguishing HCC from benign hepatic disorders for its high false-positive and false negative rates. Materials and Methods: Serum levels of AFP, 5'-nucleotidase enzyme activity (5-NU) and leucine aminopeptidase enzyme (LAP) activity were measured in 40 individuals. Results: LAP and 5'NU were elevated in HCC at p<0.001. Pearson correlation coefficients showed that changes in AFP exhibited positive correlation with both 5'-NU and LAP at (p<0.001). The complementary use of LAP only with AFP resulted in an increase in sensitivity of AFP from 75% to 90% in detecting HCC. The complementary use of both LAP and 5-NU with AFP resulted in an increased sensitivity of AFP in detecting HCC from 75% to 95%. Conclusions: LAP and 5-FU can be determined in HCC patients in combination with AFP to improve its sensitivity and decrease false negative results.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권5호
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• pp.2003-2007
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• 2015

Background: Elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in adults are considered abnormal. This parameter is used mostly in the diagnosis and follow-up of hepatocellular carcinomas and yolk sac tumors. Among the other rare tumors accompanied with elevated serum AFP levels, gastric cancer is the most common. In this study, we evaluated the follow-up and comparison of the treatment and marker response of patients with metastatic gastric cancer who had elevated serum AFP levels. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study, including all consecutive patients with advanced gastric cancer, who received systemic chemotherapy with elevated AFP level. Results: Seventeen metastatic gastric cancer patients with elevated AFP levels at the time of diagnosis were evaluated. Fourteen (82.4%) were males and three (17.6%) were females. The primary tumor localization was the gastric body in 8 (76.4%), cardia in 7 (41.2%), and antrum in 2 (11.8%). Hepatic metastasis was observed in 13 (76.4%) at the time of diagnosis. When the relationship of AFP levels and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) response of the patients with their radiologic responses was evaluated, it was found that the radiologic response was compatible with AFP response in 16 (94.1%) patients and with CEA response in 12 (70.6%); however, in 5 (29.4%) patients no accordance was observed between radiological and CEA responses. Conclusions: Follow-up of AFP levels in metastatic gastric cancer patients with elevated AFP levels may allow prediction of early treatment response and could be more useful than the CEA marker for follow-up in response evaluation.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.32-43
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• 2014

Automatic fiber placement (AFP) has become a popular processing technique for composites in the aerospace industry, due to its ability to place prepregs or tapes precisely in the exact position when complex parts are being manufactured. This paper presents the design, analysis, and manufacture of an AFP mandrel for composite aircraft fuselage skin fabrication. According to the design requirements, an AFP mandrel was developed and a numerical study was performed through the finite element method. Linear static load analyses were performed considering the mandrel structure self-weight and a 2940 N load from the AFP machine head. Modal analysis was also performed to determine the mandrel's natural frequencies. These analyses confirmed that the proposed mandrel meets the design requirements. A prototype mandrel was then manufactured and used to fabricate a composite fuselage skin. Material load tests were conducted on the AFP fuselage skin curved laminates, equivalent flat AFP, and hand layup laminates. The flat AFP and hand layup laminates showed almost identical strength results in tension and compression. Compared to hand layup, the flat AFP laminate modulus was 5.2% higher in tension and 12.6% lower in compression. The AFP curved laminates had an ultimate compressive strength of 1.6% to 8.7% higher than flat laminates. The FEM simulation predicted strengths were 4% higher in tension and 11% higher in compression than the flat laminate test results.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.310-314
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• 2013

Antifreeze peptide from Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus was overexpressed and purified in Escherichia coli. Green fluorescence protein-AFP chimera was constructed by integrating gfp and afp genes. Produced GFP-AFP chimera protein was purified using polyhistidine tag which was inserted at C-terminus. By addition of GFP-AFP chimera protein, freezing point of elution buffer was decreased from $-13^{\circ}C$ to $-20^{\circ}C$. This result suggested that GFP-AFP chimera can be considered as a potential candidate of novel inhibitor for gas hydrates.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.103-110
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• 2001

$\alpha$-Fetoprotein(AFP) is a good marker for the detection of several diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma, gonadal germ cell tumor, gastric tumor, and Down's syndrome. In this study, we developed ELISA, using synthetic peptides corresponding to the epitopes of AFP. Five kinds of peptides were synthesized from AFP to produce antibodies in rats that recognize AFP in human plasma as well as amniotic fluid and do not cross-react with serum albumin. All five kinds of antibodies showed good reactivities with their peptide-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugates. Anti-synthetic peptide 1 (R-N-E-Y-G-I-A-S-I-L, 4-13) antibody, in particular, reacted well with AEP as well as synthetic peptide 1-KLH but not with human serum albumin. The binding affinity(Kd) was 2.7$\times$10$^{-9}$M for peptide 1 and 6.8$\times$10$^{-8}$M for AEP. The range for measurement of AFP was 10~1,000 ng/ml. The within-assay and between-assay coefficients of variance(CV) were 4.83% and 10.97%, respectively. In a sample of 31 sera and 33 amniotic fluids, there was a good correlation between AFP values determined in this assay and those in a commercial kit. These results indicate that the antibodies against synthetic peptides corresponding to the epitopes of AFP are highly specific to APP and synthetic peptide-based ELISA would be useful for the measurement of human AFP.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.33-37
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• 2003

Purpose: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is widely accepted as a useful tumor marker for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinomas. On rare occasions, however, an abnormal elevation of serum AFP also has been reported in an adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract. We evaluated the influence of preoperative abnormal elevation of serum AFP (AFP positivity) on the prognosis of resectable gastric cancers. Materials and Methods: 812 gastric cancer patients, who were investigated for serum AFP before their operations and who underwent gastric resections with D2 or more extended lymph node dissection, were enrolled in the study. The survival rates were calculated by using the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared by using the log-rank test. A multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Fifty patients ($6.2\%$) were AFP positive (10.1. 4322.6 ng/ml). The survival rate of the AFP positive group was significantly lower than that of the AFP negative group ( $46.6\%\;vs.\;67.0\%$; P=0.0002). The depth of tumor invasion, the degree of regional lymph node metastasis, distant metastases, the TNM stage, the gross type, differentiation, the extent of gastric resection, and the curability of the surgery also significantly influenced survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that the depth of tumor invasion, the degree of regional lymph node metastasis, the curability of the surgery, and AFP positivity were independent prognostic indicators. Conclusion: Preoperative serum AFP can be used as an independent prognostic factor of resectable gastric cancer.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• 제42권5호
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• pp.383-393
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• 2008

목적: 조직 특이 프로모터를 이용하면 특정 암조직내에서만 원하는 치료유전자를 발현시킬 수 있다. 나트륨 옥소 공동 수송체(sodium iodide symporter: NIS) 유전자는 옥소를 섭취하는 특성을 가져 방사성옥소를 이용한 치료용 유전자로 사용될 수 있다. 광학 영상용 유전자인 luciferase (Luc) 유전자를 세포에 이입하면 비침습적으로 유전자가 이입된 세포의 상태를 평가할 수 있다. 본 연구는 간암 특이성을 나타내는 AFP 프로모터에 의해 발현이 조절되는 NIS유전자와 CMV프로모터에 의해 발현되는 Luc유전자를 간암세포에 이입하여 NIS유전자 이입에 의한 방사성옥소 유전자치료의 효과를 알아보고, 종양사멸 정도를 광학 리포터 유전자 발현으로 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: AFP enhancer와 GSTP 프로모터를 연결하여 AFP프로모터를 제작하였으며 이를 NIS유전자와 연결하였다. 또한 CMV 프로모터에 조절 받는 Luc 유전자를 동시에 삽입하여 AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자 발현 벡터를 생산하였다. 실험 대상 세포주로는 간암세포주인 HepG2와 Huh-7 세포와 사람 대장암세포주인 HCT-15 세포를 이용하였다. AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 발현벡터를 Liposome을 이용해 실험대상 세포주 내로 이입하였으며, 방사성옥소 섭취율과 방사성옥소의 유출량을 측정하였다. 또한 Luciferase 발현 정도를 luminometer로 측정하였으며, clonogenic assay를 통하여 I-131에 대한 세포주에 따른 사멸효과 차이를 알아보았다. AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자 이입 세포주를 누드마우스에 대퇴부 피하에 주입하여 I-131 축적여부를 감마카메라 영상을 획득하였다. 결과: AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자 발현 벡터를 제작하였다. AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자가 이입된 HepG2와 Huh-7 세포의 방사성옥소 섭취율은 유전자 이입이 되지 않은 대조군 HepG2와 Huh-7 세포에 비하여 높았으며, $KClO_4$를 처리시 옥소 섭취가 저해되었다. 대장암 세포주인 HCT-15세포에 AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc유전자를 이입 시 방사성옥소의 섭취률은 증가되지 않았다. 30분간 방사성옥소를 섭취시킨 AFP-NIS-Luc 유전자가 이입된 HepG2와 Huh-7 세포에서의 방사성옥소의 유출반감기는 약 4분과 6분으로 각각 나타났다. AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자가 이입된 HepG2, Huh-7세포의 Luc 유전자의 발현은 241, 441 $RLU/2\;{\times}\;10^5$ cells로 나타났으며, 대조군 HepG2와 Huh구세포에서의 Luc 유전자의 발현은 74, $RLU/2\;{\times}\;10^5$ cells로 나타났다. HCT-15 세포는 AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자 이입에 따라 I-131에 의한 세포 사멸능이 증가되지 않았으나, HepG2 및 Huh-7 세포는 FP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자 이 입에 따라 I-131에 의한 세포 사멸능이 증가되었으며, Huh-7세포의 경우 0.5mCi의 I-131을 투여한 경우 모든 세포가 사멸하였다. AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자가 이입된 Huh-7 세포수가 많을수록 방사성옥소 섭취율이 증가하며 luciferase활성도도 높게 나타났다. AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자가 이입된 Huh-7 세포를 이식한 누드마우스에 I-131 감마카메라 영상에서 종양이식부위에 방사능 축적을 관찰 할 수 있었다. 결론: AFP프로모터의 의하여 NIS유전자가 발현되며, CMV프로모터에 의한 Luc 유전자가 발현되는 벡터를 제작하였으며, 이 벡터를 이입한 경우 간암세포에서만 I-131의 세포 독성이 증가하는 효과를 나타내었다. 또한 Luc유전자를 이용하여 비침습적인 광학 영상으로 세포사멸 효과를 확인할 수 있었다. 간암특이 프로모터에 조절되는 치료 유전자와 광학리포터 유전자를 한 벡터에 동시에 이입하면 간암 특이 유전자 치료와 그 치료효과를 비침습적으로 평가할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 1999

본 연구에서는 혈장이나 양수에 있는 $\alpha$-fetoprotein (AFP)을 인식 할 수 있는 모노클로날 항체를 제조하고, 모노클로날 항체를 이용한 효소면역분석법을 개발하고자 하였다. 양수로부터 얻은 AFP를 쥐에 주사한 후 비장을 분리하여 종양세포 (Sp2/O-Ag-14)와 융합하였고, 하이브리도마 기술을 이용하여 모노클로날 항체를 제조하였다. 모노클로날 항체를 클로닝하였으며, 생성된 항체를 MabF22로 명명하였고, IgG1 중사슬과 k 경사슬의 isotype을 나타냈다. 또한 immunoblotting 방법과 ELISA로 특이도를 조사한 결과 모노클로날 항체는 AFP와만 반응하였고, 결합 친화상수는 0.8$\times$$10^{-10}$M이었다. 두 종류의 효소면역분석법 -경쟁적 또는 비경쟁적 분석 -을 이용하여 항체의 효용성을 조사하였으며, 두 방법 모두 AFP와 농도에 비례하여 반응하였다. 따라서 본 연구에서 생산된 모노클로날 항체는 연구목적으로 뿐만 아니라 AFP 농도를 측정하기 위한 면역진단시약의 개발에도 유용할 것으로 생각된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권10호
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• pp.4421-4427
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• 2015

Objectives: To investigate the prognosis significance of preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and the correlation with clinicopathological factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who underwent hepatectomy. Materials and Methods: Clinicopathological data of retrospective analysis were collected for 251 HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy in this study. According to preoperative AFP level, patients were categorized into AFP-negative (0-20ng/mL) and AFP-positive (>20 ng/mL) groups for Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression modeling. Results: The results demonstrated that increased AFP was associated with longer prothrombin time (PTs), liver capsule invasion, low grade differentiation, and late Barcelona Clinic Liver Center (BCLC) stage. Moreover, the female patients had a greater prevalence of increased preoperative AFP than male patients [284.8 (3.975-3167.5) vs (3.653-140.65); Z-2.895, p=0.004]. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 78.1, 57.5, and 40.6 % in the AFP-negative group and 61.8, 37.7, and 31.4 %, respectively, in the AFP-positive group (log-rank test 8.312, p=0.004). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 94.4, 83.8, and 62.3% in the AFP-negative group and 87.2, 60.0, and 36.7%, respectively, in the AFP-positive group. The difference was statistically significant (log-rank test, 16.884, p=0.000). Cox proportional-hazards model identified preoperative AFP to be an independent prognostic predictor of overall survival. Conclusions: Preoperative serum AFP is an independent predictor of prognosis among HCC patients following surgical resection. Female patients have a higher preoperative AFP than their male counterparts.

• BMB Reports
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.47-50
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• 2001

A one-step, two-site enzyme immunoassay was developed for measuring human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in serum and amniotic fluid using monoclonal antibodies (McAb) by eliminating the high-dose hook effect. Three McAbs that recognize different epitopes were selected among 16 different clones on the basis of epitope mapping, two for immobilization and one for horseradish peroxidase conjugation. This one-step immunoassay system is more convenient and rapid compared to a conventional two-step sandwich immunoassay system. It did not exhibit the hook effect to around 2.7 mg/ml of AFP, which is probably one of the highest concentrations of AFP in the serum. The dose-response curve of the system was linear to 500 mg/ml of AFP and the system could differentiate as low as 1 mg/ml of AFP The intra- and inter-assay variations were in an acceptable range; 95~104% and 97~105% respectively Its correlation with other commercial systems was around 95%.