Serum Tumor markers

Question 1

Alkaline phosphatase

Answer 1

Metastases to bone or liver,
Paget disease of bone,
Seminoma (placental ALP)

Question 2

Alpha-Fetoprotein

normally made by fetus, transiently elevated in pregnancy

Answer 2

HCC, 
hepatoblastoma,
Yolk sac (endodermal sinus) tumor,
mixed germ cell tumor,
high levels assoc. w neural tube/abdominal wall defects,
Low levels assoc. w Down syndrome

Question 3

beta-hCG

Answer 3

Hydatidiform moles and Choriocarcinomas (Gestational trophoblastic disease), Testicular ca., mixed germ cell tumor

Question 4

CA 15-3/CA 27-29

Answer 4

Breast ca.

Question 5

CA 19-9

Answer 5

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Question 6

CA 125

Answer 6

Ovarian Ca.

Question 7

Calcitonin

Answer 7

Medullary thyroid carcinoma

Question 8

CEA

Answer 8

CarcinoEmbryonic Antigen
(Very non-specific but produced by ~70% of colorectal and pancreatic cancers, also produced by gastric, breast, and Medullary thyroid carcinomas)

Question 9

PSA

Answer 9

Prostate ca

Can alse be elevated in BPH and prostatitis, questionable risk/benefit for screening