Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Diagnosing Childhood Cancers and Genetic-Related Chronic Diseases
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein commonly found during fetal development, but its role extends beyond birth. Throughout the first year of life, AFP levels can remain high, which can potentially mask various conditions from the neurological, metabolic, hematological, endocrine, and early childhoo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/17/4302 |
| _version_ | 1797582730855186432 |
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| author | Joanna Głowska-Ciemny Marcin Szymanski Agata Kuszerska Rafał Rzepka Constantin S. von Kaisenberg Rafał Kocyłowski |
| author_facet | Joanna Głowska-Ciemny Marcin Szymanski Agata Kuszerska Rafał Rzepka Constantin S. von Kaisenberg Rafał Kocyłowski |
| author_sort | Joanna Głowska-Ciemny |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein commonly found during fetal development, but its role extends beyond birth. Throughout the first year of life, AFP levels can remain high, which can potentially mask various conditions from the neurological, metabolic, hematological, endocrine, and early childhood cancer groups. Although AFP reference values and clinical utility have been established in adults, evaluating AFP levels in children during the diagnostic process, treatment, and post-treatment surveillance is still associated with numerous diagnostic pitfalls. These challenges arise from the presence of physiologically elevated AFP levels, inconsistent data obtained from different laboratory tests, and the limited population of children with oncologic diseases that have been studied. To address these issues, it is essential to establish updated reference ranges for AFP in this specific age group. A population-based study involving a statistically representative group of patients could serve as a valuable solution for this purpose. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:26:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-57c2efc06ed2472a9dedecb188ddacc6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:26:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-57c2efc06ed2472a9dedecb188ddacc62023-11-19T07:55:54ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942023-08-011517430210.3390/cancers15174302Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Diagnosing Childhood Cancers and Genetic-Related Chronic DiseasesJoanna Głowska-Ciemny0Marcin Szymanski1Agata Kuszerska2Rafał Rzepka3Constantin S. von Kaisenberg4Rafał Kocyłowski5PreMediCare Prenatal Research Center, ul. Czarna Rola 21, 61-625 Poznań, PolandPreMediCare Prenatal Research Center, ul. Czarna Rola 21, 61-625 Poznań, PolandPreMediCare Prenatal Research Center, ul. Czarna Rola 21, 61-625 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Zielona Gora, ul. Zyty 28, 65-046 Zielona Góra, PolandDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D-30625 Hannover, GermanyPreMediCare Prenatal Research Center, ul. Czarna Rola 21, 61-625 Poznań, PolandAlpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein commonly found during fetal development, but its role extends beyond birth. Throughout the first year of life, AFP levels can remain high, which can potentially mask various conditions from the neurological, metabolic, hematological, endocrine, and early childhood cancer groups. Although AFP reference values and clinical utility have been established in adults, evaluating AFP levels in children during the diagnostic process, treatment, and post-treatment surveillance is still associated with numerous diagnostic pitfalls. These challenges arise from the presence of physiologically elevated AFP levels, inconsistent data obtained from different laboratory tests, and the limited population of children with oncologic diseases that have been studied. To address these issues, it is essential to establish updated reference ranges for AFP in this specific age group. A population-based study involving a statistically representative group of patients could serve as a valuable solution for this purpose.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/17/4302AFPgenetic syndromeneonatal tumorpediatric oncologydiagnostic pitfalls |
| spellingShingle | Joanna Głowska-Ciemny Marcin Szymanski Agata Kuszerska Rafał Rzepka Constantin S. von Kaisenberg Rafał Kocyłowski Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Diagnosing Childhood Cancers and Genetic-Related Chronic Diseases Cancers AFP genetic syndrome neonatal tumor pediatric oncology diagnostic pitfalls |
| title | Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Diagnosing Childhood Cancers and Genetic-Related Chronic Diseases |
| title_full | Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Diagnosing Childhood Cancers and Genetic-Related Chronic Diseases |
| title_fullStr | Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Diagnosing Childhood Cancers and Genetic-Related Chronic Diseases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Diagnosing Childhood Cancers and Genetic-Related Chronic Diseases |
| title_short | Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Diagnosing Childhood Cancers and Genetic-Related Chronic Diseases |
| title_sort | role of alpha fetoprotein afp in diagnosing childhood cancers and genetic related chronic diseases |
| topic | AFP genetic syndrome neonatal tumor pediatric oncology diagnostic pitfalls |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/17/4302 |
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