Alphafetoprotein in patients with malignant diseases

The serum level of AFP was determined in 227 patients: 75 with gastric carcinoma, 81 with colon cancer and 71 with breast carcinoma. AFP in the serum was measured by a radioimmunoassay method before and after operation. In patients with stomach and colon cancer, the serum level of AFP was statistically decreased after operation. In patients with breast cancer there was no significant change after operation. In patients with stomach cancer, the level of AFP was 22.70 +/- 6.89 ng ml-1 before operation, and 5.94 +/- 0.81 ng ml-1 after operation; in patients with colon cancer, 14.36 +/- 2.84 and after operation 5.80 +/- 0.82; and in patients with breast cancer, 8.96 +/- 0.97 and after operation 8.50 +/- 0.95.