In Japan, nine types of TMs are certified for use in tumor monitoring: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 199, CA125, CA50, CA724, sialyl Tn antigens (STN), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) [5]. The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is neoplasm.