• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 2000

Purpose: Although ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein is one of the most commonly used tumor markers in Korea, most of the radioimmunoassay kits for ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein have been imported from foreign countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a recently developed domestic immunoradiometric kit for ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein (Riakey AFP IRMA $CT^R$, Sin-Jin Medics, Seoul, Korea). Materials and Methods: We evaluated intra- and inter-assay precision, recovery rate, parallelism, and sensitivity of serum ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein measurement using Riakey AFP IRMA $CT^R$ kit. The values of ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein measured by Riakey AFP IRMA $CT^R$ kit were compared with those measured by two foreign commercial kits (${\alpha}$-fetoproteina of Radim and ${\alpha}$-feto.riabead of Abbott). Results: Intra-assay coefficients of variation on three different levels were 5.3% for 18.9 ng/ml, 3.4% for 133 ng/ml and 1.6% for 330 ng/ml. Inter-assay coefficients of variation were 9.7% for 20.9 ng/ml, 3.2% for 137 ng/ml and 4.1% for 330 ng/ml respectively. Recovery rate tests on all three different levels showed within $100{\pm}10%$. Parallelism was also good and the sensitivity was 0.63 ng/ml. There was strong correlation between the measurement of ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein by Riakey AFP IRMA $CT^R$ and that by two foreign commercial kits(r=0.98). Conclusion: The first Korean domestic immunoradiometric kit for ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein, Riakey AFP IRMA $CT^R$, performed well for clinical use.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.559-562
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• 2012

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a significant marker for clinical diagnosis and prognosis evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, some proportion of liver cancer patients are AFP-negative (AFP ${\leq}$20ng/ml). In order to study the differences between clinicopathological factors and prognosis of alpha-fetoprotein negative and positive patients, a total of 114 cases (41 AFP-negative and 73 AFP-positive) were selected for our research. By systematically statistical analysis, the results demonstrated that compared with AFP-negative patients, AFP-positive examples were more likely to feature cirrhosis nodules, non-complete neoplasm capsules, and a poor Edmondson-steiner grade. Furthermore, AFP-negative patients demonstrated a favorable long-term prognosis. By univariate analysis and multivariate analysis with Cox's proportional hazards model, multiple tumors were found to be independent risk factors for worse survival of AFP negative patients; however, less tumor-free margins, multiple tumors and Edmondson-steiner grades III/IV, proved to be independent risk factors leading to a poor prognosis of AFP positive cases. Finally, we can infer that high levels of AFP signify a highly malignant tumor and unfavorable prognosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.193-197
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• 2008

The influence of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on the bone marrow (BM) natural suppressor (NS) cells of intact Ehrlich carcinoma -bearing CBA mice was studied. Bone marrow NS cells were fractionated into three fractions by isopycnic centrifugation on percoll gradients: NS1 (${\rho}$=1.080 g/ml), NS2 (${\rho}$=1.090 g/ml) and NS3 (1.100> ${\rho}$ > 1.090 g/ml). These fractions were highly different in their sensitivity to known NS cell inductors (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-3 or histamine). None of the NS fractions isolated from the intact mice spontaneously produced antiproliferative activity, however, they showed a high level of NS (antiproliferative and natural killer cell inhibitory) activity under the influence of AFP. A single injection of AFP to intact mice led to an increase of spontaneous NS activity and the inhibition of natural killer cell activity. NS activity, especially NS2, was increased in when tumor cells were subcutaneously inoculated three days after AFP injection. In the AFP-treated mice, the tumor mass at 14 days was 60% larger than that in the untreated mice. Our data confirmed that AFP is a tumor marker that can inhibit cancer immunity and plays a role in cancer pathogenesis.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.522-528
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• 1993

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against human alpha-fetoprotein (AFPI was produced by hybridizing SP 210-Ag 14 mouse myeloma cells with spleen cells of Balb/c mice immunized with purified AFP. Two subclones (D-6 and I-6) were expanded as ascite tumors in svngenic mice, and from ascitic fluid immunoglbulins were Pruified. Each anibodv was identified to be homogeneous by several criteria, and the affinity constant of D-6 and I-6 MAb to AEP was calculated to be 4.2${\times}$10-8 and 6.4${\times}$10-8 M-1, respectively. With these MAbs sensitive and accurate enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method was established.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.175-178
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• 2010

A 5-year-old male Cocker spaniel was presented with an abrupt seizure episode. The dog was moderately dehydrated, hypersalivation and loss of consciousness at the presentation. Tentative diagnosis was made through history taking, clinical signs, physical examination, neurologic examination, basic laboratory examinations, radiological examination and cytologic examination. In addition, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) value was measured to diagnose in this case. The serum AFP concentration was marked elevated (1513.5 ng/ml). The patient was suspected as HCC and medical therapy was initiated to control hypoglycemic-associated seizure. However, the dog was euthanized because of the owner's request. It was diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the histopathologic examination. This case indicates that AFP measurement might be valuable to diagnose HCC in dogs.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2011

Purpose: ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric cancer is a rare tumor with high rates of liver metastasis and a poor prognosis. Many studies have been performed but there have been no comprehensive investigations of the clinicopathological and prognosis. Materials and Methods: Six hundred ninety four patients with gastric cancer who underwent a curative gastric resection in Hanyang University Hospital from February 2001 to December 2008 were evaluated retrospectively after excluding active or chronic hepatits, liver cirrhosis and preoperative distant metastasis. Among them, thirty five patients had an elevated serum level of AFP (>7 ng/ml) preoperatively. The clinicopathological features of AFP-producing gastric cancer were analyzed. Results: There was poorer differentiation, a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis, more marked lymphatic and vascular invasion in the AFP-positive group than in the AFP-negative group. The 5-year survival rate of the AFP-positive group was significantly poorer than that in the AFP-negative group (66% vs. 80%, P=0.002). A significantly higher incidence of liver metastasis was observed in the AFP-positive group than in the AFP-negative group (14.3% vs. 3.6%, P=0.002) with a shorter median time period from the operation to the metachronous liver metastasis (3.7 months vs. 14.1 months, P=0.043). Multivariate survival analysis revealed the depth of invasion, degree of lymph node metastasis and AFP-positivity to be the independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: AFP-producing gastric cancers have an aggressive behavior with a high metastatic potential to the liver. In addition, their clinicopathological features are quite different from the more common AFP-negative gastric cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.192-199
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• 1996

A rapid and sensitive method has been developed to detect a-fetoprotein (AFP) in human serum by a two-site sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) for human AFP within 1 h. To obtain the most sensitive and reliable MAbs. 12 kinds of MAbs (HPJ1 to HPJ12) as a capture antibody and 4 kinds of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated MAbs as a tracer antibody were investigated. Among these, only HPJ 10-HRP conjugated HPJ 1 (HPJ 10-HPJ $1^*$) and HPJ 11-HRP conjugated HPJ 10 (HPJ 11-HPJ $10^*$) were chosen as candidates based on the linearity of the standard curve and the sensitivity of the assay. To further characterize these two pairs. MAbs against human AFP were purified from hybridoma cells. conjugated with HRP. and then characterized to optimize the two-site sandwich ELISA The HPJ 10-HPJ $1^*$ pair showed a sensitivity of 1 ng/ml and a better reproducibility than the HPJ 11-HPJ $10^*$ pair when the human sera were incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. The results obtained for 480 randomly selected human sera showed 0~20 ng/ml of AFP values for the normal human sera. To test the utility of our kit, AFP concentrations were determined for 951 human sera (including 85 normal sera, 480 random blood sera, 213 HBsAg-positives. 50 anti-HCV antibody positives. and 47 malignant diseases) and compared with other commercially available AFP detecting kits. These results show that the present two-site sandwich ELISA method is a rapid, sensitive, and reliable procedure for detecting AFP in human serum.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.70-73
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• 2006

Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) is a plasma protein produced in the fetal liver, yolk sac and gastrointestinal tract. The plasma level of AFP decreases markedly 1 year after birth. The AFP level is usually increased in hepatocellular carcinoma and yolk sac tumor but is rare in a primary lung cancer. We report a case of primary adenocarcinoma of lung producing high levels of AFP.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.487-493
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• 2011

Alpha fetoprotein(AFP), which is serological marker for hepatocellular carcinoma, was quantitatively measured by its normal concentration, 10 ng/ml, with a label-free piezoelectric microcantilever mass sensor. The principle of detection is based on changes in the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric microcantilever before and after target molecules are attached to it, and its resonant frequency is measured electrically using a conductance spectrum. The resonant frequency of the developed sensor is approximately 1.34 MHz and the mass sensitivity is approximately 175 Hz/pg. The sensor has high reliability as mass sensor by reducing the effect of surface stress on resonant frequency due to attached proteins. 'Dip and dry' technique was used to react the sensor with reagents for immobilizing AFP antibody on the sensor and detecting AFP antigen. The measured mass of the detected AFP antigen was 6.02 pg at the concentration of 10 ng/ml, and 10.67 pg at 50 ng/ml when the immunoreaction time was 10 min.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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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.