Serum basic fetoprotein in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Serum basic fetoprotein (BFP), immunosuppressive acid protein (IAP), and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) levels were measured in patients with renal cell carcinoma. The positive rates of serum BFP, IAP, and TPA were 47%, 79%, and 42%, respectively. Serum levels and positive rates were found to be elevated according to the degree of disease advancement. Using a combined assay for the three markers, the positive rate for BFP, IAP, and TPA was 92%, and approximately 100% in Stages II, III, and IV of the disease. Therefore, the combined marker assay improved the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma. In curative resection patients, the percent of patients whose serum BFP levels returned to normal 1 week after the operation was 85. This was higher than the IAP or TPA levels (18% and 67%, respectively). Moreover, in inoperable patients, serum BFP levels showed a better correlation with the clinical course than serum IAP or TPA levels. Serum BFP is useful for monitoring patients with renal cell carcinoma who have an elevated BFP value.