Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a 70-kDa tumor-associated fetal mammalian glycoprotein which belongs to the gene family of serum albumin. AFP is involved with both ontogenic and oncogenic growth, as well as immunoregulatory processes.1 AFP is synthesized in the yolk sac, fetal liver, and gastrointestinal tract during pregnancy but is re-expressed in multiple adult tumours of mixed mesodermal/endodermal origin.2 Native AFP during pregnancy as well as tumour AFP stimulates cell and tissue growth, thus tAFP supports cancerogenesis. Serum levels of AFP are elevated in patients with liver cancer as well as other types of cancer (breast, esophagus, cervical, pancreatic, endometrial, gastric, lung, rectum), and noncancer diseases cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, and gastritis. On the other hand, whereas patients suffering from multiple myeloma, Wilms’ tumour, and other 22 types of noncancer diseases had significantly decreased median serum AFP levels than that of healthy controls.3
Alpha-fetoprotein is a shuttle protein that delivers nutrients through receptor-mediated endocytosis to embryotic cells. In adults, alpha-fetoprotein can shuttle drugs into alpha-fetoprotein receptor-positive myeloid-derived suppressor, regenerating and cancer cells.4
Enzyme Immunoassay is intended for the quantitative determination of Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) in human serum and plasma.
RESOURCES
- Adigun OO, Yarrarapu SNS, Zubair M, Khetarpal S. Alpha Fetoprotein. 2022 Nov 23. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan–. PMID: 28613501.
- Wong RJ, Ahmed A, Gish RG. Elevated alpha-fetoprotein: differential diagnosis – hepatocellular carcinoma and other disorders. Clin Liver Dis. 2015 May;19(2):309-23. doi: 10.1016/j.cld.2015.01.005. Epub 2015 Feb 27. PMID: 25921665.
- He Y, Lu H, Zhang L. Serum AFP levels in patients suffering from 47 different types of cancers and noncancer diseases. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2019;162:199-212. doi: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2019.01.001. Epub 2019 Mar 6. PMID: 30905450.
- Pak VN. The use of alpha-fetoprotein for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. Ther Deliv. 2018 Jan;9(1):37-46. doi: 10.4155/tde-2017-0073. PMID: 29216804.
