Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has traditionally been used as a biomarker of primary liver cancer (HCC). It’s also been used to monitor patients to see if the cancer was responding to treatment.
Doctors can order a blood test to check for protein in the blood.
AFP may be able to predict a patient’s response to an anti-VEGFR-2 therapy, ramucirumab (CYRAMZA), after being treated with sorafenib (Nexavar). Studies have shown that if a patient has a baseline AFP higher than 400 ng/mL, they may receive more benefit from ramucirumab.
Ask your doctor how your biomarker test results are informing your treatment plan and if you qualify for any clinical trials.
