A study on the lectin reactivity of alpha-fetoprotein produced by hepatoidadenocarcinomas and yolk sac tumors

The carbohydrate structure of glycoproteins is considered to be tissue-spec ific or cell type-specific, but there have been no reports on the differenc es of the carbohydrate structure of alpha-fetoproteins (AFPs) produced by h istologically identical tumors in different tissues, The lectin affinity el ectrophoresis of hepatoid adenocarcinomas and yolk sac tumors from differen t organs suggested that either the tumor heterogeneity or the tissue specif icity is possibly involved, the lectin reactivity of the AFP sugar chain st ructure produced by the tumors in different tissues.