Serum alpha fetoprotein kinetics in hepatocellular carcinoma. A case for cessation of therapy.

As chemotherapy with adriamycin is accompanied by toxic side effects, early recognition of ineffective treatment is important. Marker kinetics, apparent half-life (AFL) and doubling time (DT), showed that in five patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, adriamycin was ineffective. Failure of the chemotherapeutic regimen was apparent by the third course of treatment.