In adults, what condition is associated with increased levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)?

In adults, increased levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are most commonly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, which is a type of liver cancer. AFP is a protein that is typically produced by the fetal liver, but in adults, elevated levels can indicate liver pathology, particularly malignancy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is often related to chronic liver diseases, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis, and as the liver becomes damaged, it can trigger the production of AFP. The use of AFP as a tumor marker is essential in the diagnosis and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma, as elevated levels can help confirm the presence of this malignancy and evaluate treatment responses. Thus, the association between increased AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma is well-established in clinical practice.

While liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and certain germ cell tumors can also lead to elevated AFP levels, the strongest and most direct correlation in adults is with hepatocellular carcinoma. This highlights the importance of AFP in the context of liver cancer screening and diagnosis.