Oncofetal protein

Oncofetal proteins are special proteins that are normally produced during fetal development but are usually absent or found in very low amounts in healthy adults. In some cases, their presence can indicate certain types of cancer, as tumors may produce these proteins when they shouldn't. Doctors often measure levels of oncofetal proteins, like alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) or carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), as part of cancer diagnosis or monitoring. Their elevated levels can help in identifying specific cancers, understanding disease progression, or assessing treatment effectiveness.