Response of alpha-fetoprotein to chemotherapy in patients with hepatomas

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was assessed in the sera of 63 patients with hepatomas at the Kyoto University Medical Center. Of 39 patients subjected to chemotherapy, 26 were AFP positive by agar gel precipitation test. Serum AFP in 9 of the patients decreased by more than 50% after the chemotherapy; the decrease continued for longer than 3 months (Group I). Six of the 9 patients had good clinical response, and 3 were evaluated as fair response. AFP in 9 other patients showed a transient decrease of less than 50% and gradually returned to the pretreatment level or slightly above it until death of the patient (Group II). Eight of the 9 had fair clinical response; 1 showed progressive increase in the size of the tumor. All of the remaining 8 patients had continuous increase of serum AFP (Group III) and did not respond to the chemotherapy at all. The pattern of AFP changes classified as Group I to III shows good correlation with clinical response.