Fetal hemoglobin and alpha-fetoprotein in various malignancies

Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) concentrations were measured by a radial immunodiffusion assay in 233 patients with various malignancies. In 96 of these, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was also measured by radioimmunoassay. The concentration of HbF exceeded 2 SDs above the normal mean in 39 of 233 patients, most notably in patients with leukemia, lymphomas, multiple myeloma and testicular tumors. The proportion of HbF was not correlated with the total hemoglobin concentration or with serum AFP concentration.