LECTURE - Tumor Markers Flashcards
define tumor marker
substance that can be measured in body fluids or tissue to identify the presence of cancer, make a prognosis, monitor therapy, and in general, assist in the clinical management of patient
tumor markers are produced either …… OR …..
directly by the tumor or as an effect of the tumor on health tissue (host)
types of tumor markers
serum and urine proteins
- serum protein electrophoresis
- urine protein electrophoresis
- free kappa/lambda light chain quantification
types of tumor markers: oncofetal antigens
- CEA = carcinoembryonic antigen
- AFP = alpha fetoprotein
- CA 15.13, CA 27.29
- CA 125
- PSA
CEA is increased in
- colorectal cancer
- gastic
- pancreatic
- breast
- lung
AFP increased in
- primary hepatoma
- non-seminiferous testicular tumors
- elevated in newborns also
these are used to screen or diagnose or follow up breast cancer in the US
CA 15.13, CA27.29
cancer antigen 19.9
- pancreatic cancer = 70%
- colorectal and lung cancers
- pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, liver disease
cancer antigen 125
- increased in ovarian cancer
- 5th most common cause of cancer death in females; less than 20% are detected early
prostate specific antigen
- serum sample only
- specificity increase with age
- higher in Blacks
T or F. In Canada, we don’t use tumor markers to screen
T! used to follow-up instead
hormone tumor markers
hCg
prolactin
testosternoe
when is hCG increased?
- trophoblastic disease
- germ cell carcinomas
prolactin normally used to evaluate…
infertility and galactorrhea (overexpression of milk glands)
- increased in prolactinoma
fecal occult blood test
- colorectal cancer is the second most lethal common cancer
- early detection => corrective surgery
0 FOBT used to screen for colorectal cancer - fecal immunohemoglobin test now used
