[Case of rectal cancer with high level of serum alpha-fetoprotein]

A 61 year old male with a high serum alpha-fetoprotein level (2750 ng/ml) is reported. He had undergone curative surgery for early gastric cancer in June 1979, and palliative resection of a primary rectal lesion in December 1981. The postoperative alpha-fetoprotein level decreased to 1300 ng/ml but gradually increased despite the intraarterial infusion of 5-FU (9.25g) and Mitomycin-C (30 mg). He died of cachexia in February 1982. Histological examination revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma; alpha-fetoprotein positive substances were found in the cytoplasm of rectal cancer cells by the enzyme labeled antibody method(peroxidase-antiperoxidase immune complex method). This rectal cancer patient had multiple primary cancers and gastric cancer.