FOUR CASES OF ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN PRODUCING GASTRIC CANCER SUGGESTIVE OF MULTIPLE DIFFERENTIATION

Clinical and histological characteristics of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) producing gastric cancers were studied. Four (3.8%) among 104 cases of gastric cancer experienced in the last eight years were AFP-producing gastric cancer. in addition to AFP, the coexistence of carcinoembryonic antigen, ferritin or carbohydrate antigen 199 were found in the tumor cells by immunohistochemical methods. It is suggested that AFP-producing tumor cells might have an ability to differentiate into various forms. Clinically, most of AFP-producing gastric cancers belonged to Borrmann type 2 or type 3. As they were already markedly advanced and with a high frequency of hepatic metastasis during surgery, the prognosis was very poor. In cases of AFP-producing gastric cancer, serum AFP values were found to show a good correlation with the clinical course. It may be useful in predicting the prognosis such as recurrence or liver metastasis.