Carcino-fetal proteins and gastric cancer: the site of alpha-fetoprotein synthesis in gastric cancer.

Although several investigators have reported serum alpha-fetoprotein positive gastric cancer with or without metastasis to the liver, its site of production is still unclear. We studied on the site of alpha-fetoprotein synthesis in our cases which showed remarkably high level of serum alpha-fetoprotein, and clarified the presence of alpha-fetoprotein producing gastric cancer by means of direct immunofluorescent technique. However, we also knew the hepatocytes adjacent ot the metastatic lesions could also synthesize alpha-fetoprotein, although these hepatocytes were not known whether under regeneration or degeneration. Through this study, the other carcinofetal proteins such as carcino-placental alkaline phosphatase and CEA were examined using the sera or tumor tissues. Our results will support the idea that cancer is the disease of cell differentiation.