JOCS
Journal of Comprehensive Surgery

The aim of the Comprehensive Surgery is to publish original research articles of the highest scientific and clinical value at the international level in all surgical fields. This journal is indexed by indices that are considered international scientific journal indices (DRJI, ESJI, OAJI, etc.). According to the current Associate Professorship criteria, it is within the scope of International Article 1-d. Each article published in this journal corresponds to 5 points.

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Original Article
Association of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) with indirect prognosis in gastric cancer
Abstract
Aims: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein secreted from the yolk sac and hepatocytes during fetal life. Elevated levels in adults are considered markers for yolk sac tumors, hepatocellular carcinoma and gastric cancer. There is still no consensus on the definition of AFP-secreting gastric cancers, but AFP-secreting gastric cancers have been reported to have a worse prognosis. In this study, AFP levels in gastric cancers with high AFP were compared with pathology results and evaluated in terms of indirect prognosis.
Methods: Patients with gastric cancer operated in the General Surgery Clinic of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital between 2019 and 2023 were retrospectively screened. Among the screened patients, those whose information could not be reached and those with incomplete information were excluded and 126 patients were included in the study. Serum AFP levels of these patients were compared with pathology results, stages and tumor sizes.
Results: The mean age of the patients in our study was 66±11 years, 42 (33.6%) were female and 84 (66.7%) were male. Of the 126 patients analyzed in the study, 107 (84.9%) were AFP-negative and 19 (15.1%) were AFP-positive. There was no significant difference in AFP levels between all patients in terms of liver metastasis, peritoneal metastasis, disease stage, perineural invasion and tumor location. However, serum AFP levels were significantly higher in patients with lymphovascular invasion and lung metastases (p=0.042; p=0.024). In the analysis for serum AFP level in the presence of lymphovascular invasion, ROC value was 2.35 ng/ml, sensitivity 58.2%, specificity 55.9%, area under the curve (AUC) 0.618, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.512-0.723 and p=0.028.
Conclusion: Lymphovascular invasion is a poor prognostic factor in gastric cancer. In this study, a significant correlation was found between serum AFP value and lymphovascular invasion. In gastric cancers without AFP secretion, a serum AFP value above 2.35 ng/ml may be indirectly associated with poor prognosis because it predicts lymphovascular invasion.

Keywords : Gastric cancer, alpha-fetoprotetin, lymphovascular invasion

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Article available in :
Volume 2, Issue 3, 2024
Page : 45-48
https://doi.org/10.51271/JOCS-0034
Article Information
Received : 23 May 2024
Accepted : 27 Haz 2024
Published : 27 Ağu 2024
Corresponding Author :

Sadettin Er: Department of General Surgery, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

[email protected]
Citation : Martlı HF, Göktaş A, Sarı AE, Pak MA, Er S, Tez M. Association of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) with indirect prognosis in gastric cancer. J Compr Surg. 2024;2(3):45-48.

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