Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in Gynecological Tumors

Abstract

AFP in 262 patients with genital malignancy, 28 with non-genital malignancy, 58 with benign ovarian tumors, 56 with hydatidiform mole, 12 with choriocarcinoma and 83 healthy females was determined by AFP radioimmunoassay. It was found in 1 patient with corpus cancer, 5 with ovarian malignancy, 4 with testicular malignancy and 2 with partial hydatidiform mole. The importance of immunocytochemical localization of tumor markers is emphasized and the concept of apparent half-life (AHL) of AFP is introduced.