Parameter
| Biomarker | Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) | Full name | Alpha-fetoprotein | Molecular Type | Proteins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molecular Formula | Human AFP: C₅₈₀H₉₁₃N₁₅₇O₁₇₄S₄ | Molecular Weight | ~69 kDa | Core Functional Dimensions | Liver cancer screening and therapeutic efficacy monitoring |
| Disease | Viral Hepatitis | Disease Subtypes | / | ||
| Organ | Liver | Test Sample / Technology Platform | Serum | ||
| Pathobiological Mechanisms | Abnormal glycoprotein secreted by hepatocellular carcinoma cells is related to the proliferation activity of hepatocellular carcinoma; It is used for HCC screening (AFP > 400 ng/mL indicates high risk) and postoperative recurrence monitoring. However, the sensitivity is insufficient in early stage liver cancer (about 60%). | ||||
| Clinical Availability Status | Routine clinical use (as an adjunct to liver cancer screening) | ||||
| Notes and Dynamics | Although the traditional liver cancer markers have limited sensitivity, their combination with ultrasound and PIVKA-II can improve the early diagnosis rate. They are still the basic indicators for clinical management of liver cancer, and need to be optimized in combination with new markers (such as circulating tumor DNA) | ||||