This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nishioka, M. Articles by Fujita, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nishioka, M. Articles by Fujita, T.

Localization of -Fetoprotein in Hepatoma Tissues by Immunofluorescence

First Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Japan

By means of the indirect immunofluorescent technique with anti--fetoprotein antiserum, -fetoprotein (AFP) was detected in the tumor cells from 9 of 10 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Even the patient with such a slight amount of serum AFP that it was undetectable by single radial immunodiffusion and Ouchterlony technique had AFP in the tumor cells.

AFP of tumor cells was localized in the following three areas: (a) cytoplasm, (b) cytoplasmic membrane, and (c) perinuclear zone. The distribution of the tumor cells containing AFP varied with the case and the specimen, and the number of these staining cells was one-fifth or less of the total.

AFP was sometimes found in the cytoplasm of Kupffer cells but was absent in connective tissues, bile ducts, and normal hepatic cells.

Received 6/23/71. Accepted 9/17/71.