Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings
14:40

Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings

Published on: October 25, 2015

Foetal steroid binding protein and malignancy

A Forbes1

  • 1Liver Unit, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, England.

Anticancer Research
|September 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

Foetal steroid binding protein (FSBP) influences steroid binding in adults. Elevated FSBP serum levels are linked to liver disease and cancer, but higher levels may protect against breast cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Oncology
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • Foetal steroid binding protein (FSBP) is present in adult human serum.
  • FSBP influences steroid binding to albumin in vivo.
  • Its role as a primary high-affinity binding protein is less evident.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between FSBP serum levels and various diseases.
  • To explore the potential protective role of FSBP against breast carcinoma.
  • To examine links between FSBP and primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Main Methods:

  • Serum analysis for FSBP levels.
  • Comparative analysis across racial groups with differing breast cancer risk.
  • Examination of FSBP levels in patients with liver disease and cancer.

Main Results:

  • Elevated FSBP serum levels observed in parenchymal liver disease, hepatic malignancy, and non-metastatic breast cancer.
  • Higher FSBP levels found in healthy women from racial groups with lower breast cancer risk, suggesting a protective effect.
  • FSBP's potential link to primary hepatocellular carcinoma is under examination.

Conclusions:

  • FSBP may play a protective role against breast carcinoma development.
  • Further research is warranted to understand FSBP's role in liver disease and cancer.
  • FSBP's influence on steroid binding and its clinical significance require continued investigation.

More Related Videos

The 4-vessel Sampling Approach to Integrative Studies of Human Placental Physiology In Vivo12:17

The 4-vessel Sampling Approach to Integrative Studies of Human Placental Physiology In Vivo

Published on: August 2, 2017

Trophoblast Cell Recovery from Angiogenesis-Tube Formation Assay for Differentiation Marker Expression Analysis05:30

Trophoblast Cell Recovery from Angiogenesis-Tube Formation Assay for Differentiation Marker Expression Analysis

Published on: November 8, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Transcytosis of IgG01:15

Transcytosis of IgG

Transcytosis is the process in which molecules are internalized by endocytosis, transported across the cell, and released through exocytosis from the opposite end of the cell. Molecules such as insulin, immunoglobulins, and certain nutrients are transferred through the recycling endosomes by recycling and transcytosis.
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Drug Distribution: Tissue Binding01:21

Drug Distribution: Tissue Binding

Upon entering the systemic circulation, drugs can distribute into the interstitial and intracellular fluid of various tissue cells. This distribution is facilitated by the binding of drugs to different cellular components within tissues, which may lead to drug accumulation in specific areas. Drugs bound to tissue components serve as reservoirs that release free drugs back into the system, prolonging the drug's overall action. However, this accumulation can also result in local toxicity.
For...
Drug Distribution: Plasma Protein Binding01:29

Drug Distribution: Plasma Protein Binding

Drugs predominantly attach to plasma proteins, with only a small percentage remaining unbound. The unbound portion can be calculated as one minus the bound fraction. Acidic drugs form large, inactive complexes by reversibly binding to plasma albumin, which prevents them from diffusing across biological barriers. These drug-protein complexes act as reservoirs for the drugs. As the concentration of unbound drugs decreases, these complexes quickly dissociate to release the free drug, maintaining...
Drug Binding to Blood Components01:30

Drug Binding to Blood Components

When drugs enter systemic circulation, they interact with various components of the blood, including proteins such as human serum albumin (HSA), α1-acid glycoprotein (AAG), lipoproteins, globulins, and red blood cells (RBCs).
HSA is the most abundant plasma protein and is vital in drug binding. It contains distinct drug-binding sites, with different drugs exhibiting affinity for specific sites. There are three main drug-binding domains for HSA: sites I, II, and III. These domains are further...
Tissue-Drug Binding: Localization of Drugs and its Significance01:24

Tissue-Drug Binding: Localization of Drugs and its Significance

Body tissues, comprising approximately 40% of the body weight, are crucial in drug distribution and localization. These tissues can serve as drug storage sites, competing with plasma binding sites for drug molecules.
Drugs can bind to different tissue components, enhancing their distribution and localization. The factors influencing drug localization in tissues include the drug's lipophilicity, structural characteristics, tissue perfusion rate, and pH differences. These factors determine the...