The value of tumour marker kinetics in the management of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been measured during chemotherapy of ten patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Whenever the AFP concentration of a sample was lower than that of the previous sample the apparent half-life (AHL) of the protein was calculated. The biological half-life of AFP is 5 days so that values in excess of this were indicative of continuing or increased synthesis and secretion of AFP. The AHL for AFP provided a means of assessing efficacy of treatment. Increases in AHL generally predicted a rise in serum AFP and give advance warning of the need to change therapy.
Buamah
P K
PK
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.
James
O F
OF
Skillen
A W
AW
Harris
A L
AL
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen