LECTIN AFFINITY ELECTROPHORESIS IN A YOLK-SAC TUMOR IN THE VAGINA WITH YOLK-SAC TUMOR-TYPE GLYCOFORM OF ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN

Aims-To investigate a potential diagnostic use of alpha fetoprotein (a lpha FP) isoform analysis by lectin affinity electrophoresis to distin guish between endodermal sinus tumours arising in the vagina in infant s from those at other sites. Methods-alpha FP in the serum of a patien t with a vaginal endodermal sinus tumour was analysed for its isoforms by lectin affinity electrophoresis. The isoforms were compared with t hat of cord serum, sera of hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the uterus, and endodermal sinus tumour of the ovary. Results-The isoforms of alpha FP obtained by lectin affinity electrophoresis in the serum of the patie nt with vaginal endodermal sinus tumour differed from the isoforms of alpha FP in the cord serum of normal neonates, and sera of patients wi th hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the uterus or endodermal sinus tumour of the ovary. Conclusions-Endodermal sinus tumour arising in the vagina could be distinguished from that in the ovary by the lectin affinity e lectrophoresis, and a potential diagnostic use of alpha FP isoform ana lysis by the lectin affinity electrophoresis for the detection of the endodermal sinus tumour in infants was demonstrated.