Will ovarian cancer increase AFP levels?

Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
Updated on April 20, 2025
00:00
00:00

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of the female reproductive organs, with an incidence rate second only to cervical cancer and endometrial cancer. Epithelial carcinoma is the most common type of malignant ovarian tumor, followed by malignant germ cell tumors, among which ovarian epithelial carcinoma has the highest mortality rate among all gynecological tumors. In cases of ovarian cancer, an increase in AFP is common, particularly in malignant germ cell tumors. The most common of these is the yolk sac tumor, which has a specific value, as its AFP levels are often significantly elevated.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
44sec home-news-image

Can ovarian cancer be detected by transvaginal ultrasound?

Ovarian cancer can generally be detected through a transvaginal ultrasound. During this procedure, we can find cystic or cystic-solid, or a solid mass in the ovaries. If a blood test for tumor markers shows a significant increase in CA125, especially in combination with a large amount of ascites, we must strongly suspect ovarian cancer. In such cases, patients should undergo a tumor biopsy. By taking a biopsy and confirming it pathologically, we can definitively diagnose ovarian cancer. Therefore, most ovarian cancer patients can indeed be detected through a transvaginal ultrasound.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
41sec home-news-image

Does ovarian cancer hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy work?

Patients with ovarian cancer are prone to peritoneal metastasis, so many patients develop ascites during the discovery of the disease or its progression. A large amount of ascites is a common concurrent symptom in patients with ovarian cancer. For patients with significant ascites like this, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can be performed, which involves infusing chemotherapy drugs into the abdominal cavity and then combining it with thermotherapy. This treatment generally has a decent effect, especially in controlling the spread of cancer cells in the peritoneum and managing ascites.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Xia
Oncology
51sec home-news-image

Can ovarian cancer be inherited?

Ovarian cancer, like most tumors, has genetic factors involved in its etiology, but it is not a genetic disease. Only five to ten percent of ovarian cancer patients have a genetic background. More than ninety percent of ovarian cancer cases are sporadic, meaning that if a mother has ovarian cancer, it does not directly inherit to her daughter. However, individuals with a family history of ovarian cancer have a significantly higher risk of developing the disease compared to the general population, especially those who carry mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These gene mutations can be inherited from parents, so individuals carrying these mutations have a significantly higher risk of developing ovarian cancer than the healthy population.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
1min 12sec home-news-image

How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?

Early screening for ovarian cancer allows for about 20% of cases to be diagnosed in their early stages. Detection generally follows these procedures: 1. Routine gynecological health check-ups. 2. Visiting a hospital due to certain symptoms. 3. Ovarian cancer screening. Common methods include transvaginal ultrasound and serum CA125 testing. Additional tests include tumor marker CA125 and checks for AFP, CA19-9, and CEA. Ultrasonography (B-ultrasound) can preliminarily determine the tumor size, shape, solidity, location, and its relation to surrounding organs. CT scans and MRI can further clarify the tumor's nature and the extent of invasion into the abdominal and pelvic organs. If necessary, gastroscopy can be performed to rule out primary gastrointestinal tumors, and if economic conditions allow, a PADCT scan can also be conducted.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
1min 5sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer often does not present symptoms in its early stages and can be detected during gynecological examinations. Secondly, as the tumor grows, it can cause abdominal swelling and discomfort, and abdominal masses may be felt during examinations. Ascites may also develop. The severity of these symptoms depends on the size and location of the tumor, the nearby organs it invades, and the histological type of the tumor. Thirdly, if the tumor infiltrates or compresses surrounding tissues, it can also lead to abdominal pain, back pain, and pain in the lower extremities. If it compresses the pelvic veins, swelling in the lower limbs may occur. If the tumor is functional, it can produce symptoms related to excess estrogen or androgen. In its later stages, the condition may manifest as cachexia and severe anemia, among other signs of a severe illness state.