AFP is a protein that is secreted in normally high levels during fetal development in the uterus. Maternal Serum Alpha-fetoprotein tests (MSAFP) are often done in weeks 15 – 18 of pregnancy to rule out various fetal abnormalities such as Down’s syndrome or anencephaly.

However, AFP is also used as a tumor marker for cancers such as testicular cancer and hepatoblastoma.

In a normal human, the AFP level is usually under 10, in children with liver cancers the number can be much, much higher though a high AFP alone should not be considered a definitive diagnosis. Moreover, AFP tests are used to measure the effectiveness of a particular cancer therapy as well as to monitor patients who are off treatment.

Not a lot is known about AFP and what can influence it. However, it is thought that cancer cell growth, death, liver trauma and regeneration (as in tumor resection surgery, transplant, or injury) as well as growth spurts and some infections can cause the number to become elevated.

When using AFP as a successful post-therapy monitoring variable, oncologists tend to think of large spikes (a fluctuation of an AFP from 2.3 to 5.5 would not be cause for concern whereas a leap from an AFP of 6 to 3 6 might) as well as upward trends (three or more consecutive rising numbers such as 6 to 18 to 35) as an indication of recurrent cancer growth that could indicate further testing such as CT or PET scanning.

It is important to find adequate funding for more comprehensive research to be done on the use of AFP in diagnosing, treating, and monitoring cancers to produce successful outcomes.