This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by McIntire, K. R. Articles by Go, V. L. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McIntire, K. R. Articles by Go, V. L. W.

Serum -Fetoprotein in Patients with Neoplasms of the Gastrointestinal Tract¹

Laboratory of Cell Biology [K. R. M.], and Metabolism Branch [T. A. W.], National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20014, and Gastroenterology Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55901 [C. G. M., V. L. W. G.]

Serum -fetoprotein levels were measured by a sensitive double-antibody radioimmunoassay in 580 patients with a variety of malignant and nonmalignant gastrointestinal diseases to determine the incidence of levels elevated above 40 ng/ml. Over 200 normal control subjects have all had levels below 40 ng/ml. Fifteen % of 95 patients with gastric carcinoma, 3% of 191 patients with colorectal carcinoma, 24% of 45 patients with pancreatic carcinoma, 25% of 8 patients with biliary tract carcinoma, and 70% of 73 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had elevated serum -fetoprotein. None of 14 patients with esophageal or small bowel carcinoma had elevated levels. In contrast, 1% of 154 patients with nonmalignant, nonhepatic gastrointestinal disease had elevations of serum -fetoprotein. -Fetoprotein appears to be a potential marker for tumor activity in some patients with certain gastrointestinal cancers.

¹ This work was supported in part by USPHS Research Grant NIH-NCI-G 72 3854 from the National Cancer Institute and by USPHS Contract CB 23854 with the Division of Cancer Biology and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute.

² To whom reprint requests should be sent.

Received 7/25/74. Accepted 12/12/74.