Changes in serum alpha-fetoprotein and chorionic gonadotropin in response to cancer therapy.

Overview

The usefulness of measuring both alpha-fetoprotein and hCG in following the progress of patients with testicular cancers and germ cell tumors is demonstrated. In almost half the cases of testicular cancers studied, only one tumor marker was elevated; in at least one instance, the source of alpha-fetoprotein was eliminated while the source of hCG persisted. A comparison of the hCG method in use at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center ( MSKCC ) with a commercial kit (Corning) showed that the methods were equivalent for monitoring both testicular cancers and gestational trophoblastic disease. All 17 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein.