alpha-Fetoprotein assay on dried blood spot for hepatoblastoma screening in children with overgrowth-cancer predisposition syndromes

作者：Mussa Alessandro^*; Pagliardini Severo; Pagliardini Veronica; Molinatto Cristina; Baldassarre Giuseppina; Corrias Andrea; Silengo Margherita Cirillo; Ferrero Giovanni Battista

来源：Pediatric Research, 2014, 76(6): 544-548.

DOI：10.1038/pr.2014.126

BACKGROUND: Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and hemihyperplasia (HH) are overgrowth conditions with predisposition to hepatoblastoma for which early diagnosis patients undergo cancer screening based on determination of the tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein (alpha FP). Repeated blood draws are a burden for patients with consequent compliance issues and poor adherence to surveillance protocol. We sought to analyze feasibility and reliability of aFP dosage using an analytical micromethod based on blood dried on filter paper (DBS). %26lt;br%26gt;METHODS: Overall 143 coupled alpha FP determinations on plasma and DBS collected simultaneously were performed, of which 31 were in patients with hepatoblastoma predisposition syndromes and 112 were in controls. The plasma alpha FP dosage method was adapted to DBS adsorbed on paper matrix for newborn screening. %26lt;br%26gt;RESULTS: There was strong correlation between plasmatic and DBS alpha FP (r(2) = 0.999, P %26lt; 0.001). Cohen%26apos;s k coefficient for correlation was 0.96 for diagnostic cut-off of 10 U/ml (P %26lt; 0.001), commonly employed in clinical practice. The measurements on plasma and DBS were highly overlapping and consistent. %26lt;br%26gt;CONCLUSION: The DBS method allowed to dose alpha FP reliably and consistently for the concentrations commonly employed in clinical settings for the screening of hepatoblastoma, opening new scenarios about conducting cancer screening in overgrowth syndromes.

• 出版日期2014-12