Loganath A, Peh K L, Gunasegaram R, Thiagaraj D, Cheah E, Kottegoda S R, Ratnam S S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University of Singapore, National University Hospital.
Pathology. 1988 Jul;20(3):275-8. doi: 10.3109/00313028809059507.
In order to assess the likely clinical value of AFP and beta-hCG levels as markers of the extent of spread of infiltrating duct mammary carcinoma, we compared (Mann-Whitney U test) the immunoreactive tumour tissue concentrations of the respective antigens, measured by specific RIA, after mastectomy in Chinese women at stages I (n = 9), II (n = 13) and III (n = 7) with that of normal breast tissue (n = 11). Elevated concentrations of the oncofetal antigens were found at all stages of malignancy. The discovery of an hCG-like material in the extract of normal breast tissues indicates limited value of beta-hCG assay in mammary tumours. However, our findings generally suggest that measurement of the tumour tissue AFP levels warrant consideration as a useful biochemical marker for in-vitro evaluation of tumour spread at all stages of malignancy.
