Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (40): 7576-7579.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.40.038

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Serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein and alpha-fetoprotein variants in decompensated cirrhosis patients following intrahepatic transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells via portal vein

Li Nan1, Li Na2, Shi Yu-ling2, Zhu Chao-hui1, Sha Li-na1, Wu Kai1   

  1. 1 Minimally Invasive Intervention Center for Digestion, 2 Cell Therapy Center, the 309 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing   100091, China
  • Online:2010-10-01 Published:2010-10-01
  • About author:Li Nan☆, Doctor, Professor, Chief physician, Master’s supervisor, Minimally Invasive Intervention Center for Digestion, the 309 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100091, China linan957@sina.com
  • Supported by:

    A Grant from Wujieping Medical Foundation Society, No.320.6710.10001*

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Transplantation of autologous stem cells for treatment of liver cirrhosis has been widely reported. But up to now, there exist some concerns for clinical physicians, including relationship between stem cells and post-transplantation prognosis/turnover of liver cirrhosis, directed differentiation of stem cells in the impaired liver, and malignant phenotype.
OBJECTIVE: To dynamically monitor the serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and AFP variants (AFP-L3) in decompensated cirrhosis patients following intrahepatic transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells via portal vein and evaluate the safety of this treatment method.
METHODS: A total of 44 decompensated cirrhosis patients who underwent intrahepatic transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells via portal vein in the 309 Hospital of Chinese PLA in April 2007 were included in this study. Prior to and after surgery, serum levels of AFP and AFP-L3 were detected by chemiluminescence. Through the use of a positive criterion for liver cirrhosis, i.e., the proportion of AFP-L3 in AFP [AFP-L3 (%)] ≥10%, and the relationship between decompensated cirrhosis treatment using stem cells transplantation and the malignant phenotype of liver cancer were analyzed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 2 months after surgery, serum level of AFP showed a transient increase. There was no significant difference in AFP-L3 (%) between prior to and after surgery (P > 0.05). No significant difference in AFP-L3-positve rate, as well as AFP-L3 (%), existed among patients with different serum level of AFP. These findings indicate that clinical symptoms and liver function of decompensated cirrhosis patients recovered to some extent after transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells via portal vein. Results regarding serum level of AFP-L3, a serological marker of liver cancer, did not demonstrate the appearance of malignant biological phenotype.

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