The Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Contemporary Oncology: The Path from a Diagnostic Biomarker to an Anticancer Drug

This article presents contemporary opinion on the role of alpha-fetoprotein in oncologic diagnostics and treatment. This role stretches far beyond the already known one-that of the biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma. The turn of the 20th and 21st centuries saw a significant increase in knowledge...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of molecular sciences 2023-01, Vol.24 (3), p.2539
Main Authors: Głowska-Ciemny, Joanna, Szymański, Marcin, Kuszerska, Agata, Malewski, Zbyszko, von Kaisenberg, Constantin, Kocyłowski, Rafał
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
alpha-Fetoproteins - genetics
Amino acids
Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology
Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use
Apoptosis
Biomarkers
Biomarkers, Tumor
Cancer therapies
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - diagnosis
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - drug therapy
Cell growth
DNA damage
Drug resistance
Fetuses
Gene therapy
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Humans
Immunotherapy
Ligands
Liver cancer
Liver Neoplasms - diagnosis
Liver Neoplasms - drug therapy
Metastasis
Peptides
Proteins
Review
Tumors
α-Fetoprotein
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Summary:This article presents contemporary opinion on the role of alpha-fetoprotein in oncologic diagnostics and treatment. This role stretches far beyond the already known one-that of the biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma. The turn of the 20th and 21st centuries saw a significant increase in knowledge about the fundamental role of AFP in the neoplastic processes, and in the induction of features of malignance and drug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma. The impact of AFP on the creation of an immunosuppressive environment for the developing tumor was identified, giving rise to attempts at immunotherapy. The paper presents current and prospective therapies using AFP and its derivatives and the gene therapy options. We directed our attention to both the benefits and risks associated with the use of AFP in oncologic therapy.
ISSN:1422-0067
1661-6596
1422-0067
DOI:10.3390/ijms24032539