Lectin affinity electrophoresis in ayolk sactumour inthevagina withyolk sactumour-typeglycoform ofafetoprotein

Aims-Toinvestigate apotential diagnosticuseofa fetoprotein (aFP)isoform analysis bylectin affinity electrophoresis todistinguish betweenendodermal sinus tumoursarising inthevaginaininfants fromthoseatothersites. Methods-aFPintheserumofa patient withavaginal endodermal sinustumour was analysed foritsisoforms bylectin affinity electrophoresis. Theisoforms were comparedwiththatofcordserum,seraof hepatoid adenocarcinoma oftheuterus, and endodermalsinustumour ofthe ovary. Results-The isoforms ofaFPobtained by lectin affinity electrophoresis intheserum ofthepatient withvaginal endodermal sinus tumourdiffered fromtheisoforms of aFPinthecordserumofnormalneonates, andseraofpatients withhepatoid adenocarcinomaoftheuterusorendodermal sinus tumouroftheovary. Conclusions-Endodermal sinustumour arising inthevaginacouldbe distinguished fromthatintheovarybythelectin affinity electrophoresis, anda potential diagnostic useofaFPisoform analysis by thelectin affinity electrophoresis forthe detection oftheendodermal sinus tumour ininfants wasdemonstrated. (7Clin Pathol 1997;50:856-858)