Alpha-feto protein in the serum of patients with primary gastric cancer and liver metastases.

The authors presented a patient with primary gastric cancer and liver metastases. They permanently observed the AFP concentrations before, during and after cytostatic therapy. At the same time they examined possible sites of AFP production. It is supposed that AFP neo-synthesis takes place in the secondary site with participation of altered liver cells. In such cases it is important to watch the AFP values, and this is also necessary when the primary source of the secondary liver cancer is not known. Cytostatic drugs act only in a palliative way i.e. AFP concentrations drop to a lower level and the patient feels temporarily better.