Analysis of relation between alpha-fetoprotein and gastric cancer.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: It has been reported that Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) producing gastric cancers have a worse prognosis than those not producing. We aimed to investigate gastric cancers patients in regards of AFP producing cancers incidence and pathological variables of those not producing AFP. METHODS: Patients who had diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma and hospitalized in general surgery ward for operation were enrolled to the study. Study was designed to collect data of gastric cancer patients in a prospective manner between dates 2014-2015 in Dursun Odabaş Health Center. Patients' blood samples were collected before and after surgery for analyzing AFP. The relation between serum levels of AFP and histopathological variables were analyzed. RESULTS: Totally 63 cases were evaluated. Increased AFP level was observed in 2 cases (incidence=3.17%). Serum AFPs were 1.520 ng/mL and 0.590 ng/mL in preoperative and postoperative period respectively (p<0.001). There were no relation between preoperative AFP levels and tumor stage and neurovascular invasion status. We observed that the correlation between preoperative AFP levels and number of metastatic lymph node was not significant (spearman's rho=-0.183, p=0.157). According to tumor location, there was significant difference in AFP levels (p=0.021). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: AFP producing gastric cancers is rare between patients who referred to our center. Tumor stage and AFP levels seems unrelated. Distally located gastric cancers cases should be evaluated cautiously in patients whose AFP levels are in normal range.

Keywords

• alpha-fetoprotein
• gastric cancer
• tumor stage