AFP and neoplasm: Serum levels of nine cytokines (IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-16, IL-17, IL-21, and necrosis factor-α [TNF-α] ) were quantified by ELISA, and five conventional tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA], carbohydrate antigen 19-9 [CA19-9], carbohydrate antigen CA125 [CA125], carbohydrate antigen CA72-4 [CA72-4] andalpha fetoprotein [AFP] ) were recorded.