Alpha₁Fetoglobulin in the Diagnosis of Human Hepatoma

Abstract

Monospecific rabbit antiserum against a human fetoglobulin was tested by double-gel diffusion against coded serums of patients with hepatoma and other liver diseases and controls in Uganda. A precipitin line indicated the presence of a human fetal alpha1 globulin in 50 per cent of the serums from 40 patients with hepatoma. The test was positive in only two of 118 patients with other forms of liver disease, including other malignant tumors metastatic to the liver, and negative in 50 hospital outpatient controls and 25 relatives of patients with hepatoma.