Does normal alpha-fetoprotein mean liver cancer? Not necessarily

Does normal alpha-fetoprotein mean liver cancer? Liver cancer is a common malignant liver tumor with a high clinical incidence rate. It is not easy to diagnose the disease in its early stage. Patients need to undergo multiple tests. Among them, alpha-fetoprotein is an important marker for diagnosing liver cancer. So, does normal alpha-fetoprotein mean liver cancer?

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein belonging to the albumin family, which is mainly synthesized by fetal liver cells and yolk sac. AFP has a high concentration in the fetal blood circulation, which decreases after birth. By 2-3 months after birth, AFP is basically replaced by albumin, making it difficult to detect in the blood, so its content in adult serum is extremely low.

AFP is closely related to the occurrence and development of liver cancer and various tumors. It can be found in high concentrations in various tumors and can be used as a positive detection indicator for various tumors. Currently, it is mainly used as a serum marker for primary liver cancer in clinical practice, and is used for the diagnosis and efficacy monitoring of primary liver cancer. However, even if the AFP is normal, it is still possible to develop liver cancer.

Normal liver function only means that there is no inflammation or necrosis in liver cells when blood is drawn, but it is possible that the liver has become hardened, or that the liver has been inflamed before but the inflammation has stopped when blood is drawn. In the early or middle stages of liver cancer, only the liver tissue around the cancer cells is compressed or invaded, so the transaminase may only be slightly elevated or even normal.

Therefore, in clinical practice or outpatient clinics, doctors always tell patients repeatedly that for test results, they should combine all aspects and indicators to analyze and evaluate the condition as a whole, rather than focusing on a single indicator.

In addition, liver cancer cells do not necessarily secrete alpha-fetoprotein, so normal alpha-fetoprotein does not mean that there is no liver cancer. Generally speaking, in the late stage of liver cancer, there is still a 15% probability that alpha-fetoprotein is normal; and in the early stage of liver cancer (generally 3 cm or less than 5 cm), there is a nearly 40% probability that alpha-fetoprotein is normal. Therefore, regular check-ups should also include imaging examinations so as not to delay the disease.