What Is Alpha Fetoprotein?

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein that belongs to the albumin family and is mainly synthesized by fetal liver cells and yolk sacs. Alpha-fetoprotein has a higher concentration in the fetal blood circulation and decreases after birth. The fetoprotein is basically replaced by albumin from 2 to 3 months after birth, which is difficult to detect in the blood, so it is extremely low in adult serum. . Alpha-fetoprotein has many important physiological functions, including transport functions, two-way regulatory functions as growth regulators, immunosuppression, and T lymphocyte-induced apoptosis. Alpha-fetoprotein is closely related to the occurrence and development of liver cancer and a variety of tumors, and it can show a higher concentration in a variety of tumors, which can be used as a positive detection index for a variety of tumors. At present, it is mainly used as a serum marker of primary liver cancer in clinical practice for the diagnosis and monitoring of the efficacy of primary liver cancer.

Basic Information

Chinese name

Alpha-fetoprotein

Foreign name

alpha fetoprotein

Full name

Alpha fetal globulin

English abbreviations

AFP

Alpha-fetoprotein clinical significance

1. Serum AFP content in childhood: liver cancer, hepatoblastoma, gonadal teratoblastoma, hepatitis and other AFP levels increased.

2. Adult serum AFP content test: 60% to 70% of patients with primary liver cancer have increased AFP content, testicular cancer, ovarian tumors, malignant teratoma, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, intestinal cancer, lung cancer and other patients also have increased AFP content.

3. Serum AFP levels in patients with benign liver diseases such as acute and chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis are increased to varying degrees, but most of them are lower than 1000 ug / L. The increase is related to the degree of liver cell necrosis and regeneration.

4. The increase of AFP content in general benign liver disease is transient and usually lasts 2-3 weeks. Malignant tumors continued to increase. Therefore, dynamic observation of serum AFP content can both identify benign and malignant liver disease, and also early diagnose liver cancer.

5. Under physiological conditions, alpha-fetoprotein is secreted by newborn immature hepatocytes. The fetal liver cells are not fully developed (differentiated). The secreted alpha-fetoprotein is large and can enter the mother's blood through umbilical cord blood. Alpha-fetoprotein will be positive.

Reference range of normal alpha-fetoprotein

Normal reference value of serum alpha-fetoprotein content: <25 g / L (25ng / mL).