Preliminary Study on Auxiliary Value of Serum Basic Fetoprotein in Diagnosing Lung Cancer

Abstract

To characterize basic fetoprotein (BFP) as a new tumor marker, we measured serum levels of BFP and 5 other tumor markers (CA19-9, CEA, NSE, SCC, and TPA) concomitantly in 65 patients with lung cancer, 57 patients with benign pulmonary disease, and 40 healthy volunteers. The sensitivity of BFP was 43%, the specificity 82% and the accuracy 61%. The positivity increased in relation to stage of the disease. There was no correlation between positivity of BFP and histologic type. On the whole, BFP appeared to be analogous to TPA in terms of broad spectrum and to have an auxiliary value in diagnosing lung cancer.