Application of a Phaseolus vulgaris erythroagglutinating lectin agarose column for the specific detection of human hepatoma gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in serum.

By making use of the structural change of the sugar chains of liver gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase associated with malignant transformation, a new method has been developed to distinguish human serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase associated with primary hepatoma from that of non-hepatoma patients. In principle, the method consists of affinity chromatography of the desialylated serum enzyme on a Phaseolus vulgaris erythroagglutinating lectin agarose column.