What does high alpha fetoprotein tumor marker mean?

What does high alpha fetoprotein tumor marker mean?

High levels of AFP can be a sign of liver cancer or cancer of the ovaries or testicles, as well as noncancerous liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. High AFP levels don’t always mean cancer, and normal levels don’t always rule out cancer.

Why is AFP elevated in liver disease?

The data obtained suggested that increased AFP-production in patients with liver cirrhosis might reflect, largely an abnormal or altered liver cell regeneration, probably associated with hepatitis B virus, and that patients with transiently elevated AFP values might be at greater risk for the development of HCC.

When is AFP needed for liver?

When is it ordered? A healthcare practitioner may order an AFP blood test: When it is suspected that you have liver cancer or certain cancers of the testicles or ovaries; cancer may be suspected when, for example, lumps are felt in the abdominal area during a physical exam or when imaging tests detect possible tumors.

How accurate is AFP test for liver cancer?

At a cut-off of 20ng/mL, the most commonly used cut-off in clinical practice, AFP has a sensitivity and specificity of approximately 60% and 80% for HCC, respectively(8). However, most studies have assumed that AFP performs equally well in all patients, independent of liver disease etiology or severity.

What is normal range for alpha fetoprotein?

An AFP level between 10 ng/mL to 20 ng/mL is normal for adults. An extremely high level of AFP in your blood—greater than 400 ng/mL—could be a sign of liver tumors. High levels of AFP may mean other cancers, including Hodgkin disease, lymphoma, and renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer).

What does the alpha fetoprotein test for?

An AFP blood test is used to check a developing fetus for risk of birth defects and genetic disorders, such as neural tube defects or Down syndrome.

What cancers can AFP detect?

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is used as a tumor marker to help detect and diagnose cancers of the liver, testicles, and ovaries.

What is normal AFP tumor marker?

What is normal AFP in liver cancer?

What is AFP test for liver in adults?

AFP (Alfa-fetoprotein) Hepatitis C for Patients AFP is a protein that is present in patients with liver disease. AFP is also a “tumor marker” and may be used to see if a patient has liver cancer. (Liver cancer is also called hepatocellular carcinoma).

What happens if an AFP test is positive?

What does it mean if my AFP PLUS test result is screen positive? A positive AFP PLUS test means that you are in a higher likelihood group for having a baby with a neural tube defect or a chromosome abnormality. However, it does not prove by itself that there is anything wrong with the pregnancy.

How accurate is alpha fetoprotein screening?

This means it is not 100% accurate. It is only a screening test to see who might need more tests for their pregnancy. There can be false-positive results. These results show a problem when the baby is actually healthy.

What is Alfa-fetoprotein in hepatitis C?

AFP (Alfa-fetoprotein) – Hepatitis C for Patients. AFP is a protein that is present in patients with liver disease. AFP is also a “tumor marker” and may be used to see if a patient has liver cancer. (Liver cancer is also called hepatocellular carcinoma).

Is alpha fetoprotein a marker of hepatocellular carcinoma?

This article has been cited byother articles in PMC. Abstract Alpha fetoprotein is a fetal specific glycoprotein which falls rapidly after birth. High level of alpha fetoprotein is suspicious of hepatocellular carcinoma but may be elevated in chronic viral hepatitis.

What does high AFP mean in a tumor marker test?

High levels of AFP can be a sign of liver cancer or cancer of the ovaries or testicles, as well as noncancerous liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. High AFP levels don’t always mean cancer, and normal levels don’t always rule out cancer. So an AFP tumor marker test is not usually used by itself to screen for or diagnose cancer.

Is AFP mRNA a useful marker for the prognosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma?

AFP mRNA has been shown to correlate with the metastasis and recurrence of HCC, and it may be the most useful marker to prefigure the prognosis.