alpha-fetoprotein

noun

al·​pha-fe·​to·​pro·​tein ˌal-fə-ˌfē-tō-ˈprō-ˌtēn 

-ˈprō-tē-ən

: a fetal blood protein present abnormally in adults with some cancers (as of the liver) and normally in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with high or low levels tending to be associated with certain birth defects (such as spina bifida or Down syndrome)

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

alpha-fetoprotein

noun

variants or α-fetoprotein or chiefly British alpha-foetoprotein or α-foetoprotein

: a fetal blood protein present abnormally in adults with some forms of cancer (as of the liver) and normally in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women but with very low levels tending to be associated with Down syndrome in the fetus and very high levels with neural tube defects (as spina bifida) in which the tube remains open