tumor markers

Question 1

biomarkers for tumor markers are usually what?

Answer 1

proteins

Question 2

severity of cancer is classified by:

Answer 2

tumor size
histology
regional lymph node involvement
presence of metastasis

Question 3

types of tumor markers:

Answer 3

proteins
oncofetal antigens
hormones
metabolites
receptors
enzymes

Question 4

tumor specific antigens

Answer 4

chemically induced
unique to tumor

Question 5

tumor associated antigens

Answer 5

coded for by tumorigenic viruses
expressed on host cells

Question 6

tumor markers are used for:

Answer 6

screening populations at risk
diagnosis
determining prognosis
monitoring response to treatment

Question 7

ideal tumor markers:

Answer 7

high specificity
correlates w/ tumor mass
increases w/ metastases
if in healthy is lower in [ ]
gives indication of effective therapy
[ ] correlates w/ prognosis
methods for determination are cheap and simple

Question 8

enzyme tumor markers

Answer 8

CK
LD
PSA
Prostate acid phosphatase
amylase

Question 9

carbohydrate antigen tumor markers

Answer 9

CA 125
CA 19-9
CA 27-29

Question 10

oncogene tumor markers

Answer 10

Her 2 (breast, ovary)
N-ras (neuroblast, ALL)
C-myc (lung, lymphoma, GI, brain colon)
C-abl/brc (trans. Philadelphia)

Question 11

PSA

Answer 11

prostate specific antigen
glycoprotein prod. by prostatic epi.
high sensitivity for prostate caner (75%)

Question 12

PSA elevations also seen in..

Answer 12

benign prostate hypertrophy (old age)
prostatitis
irritation

Question 13

prostate gland

Answer 13

produces fluid component of semen, PSA, and AP

Question 14

tumor markers: hormones, hCG

Answer 14

prod. by placenta
alpha and beta subunit
beta confers specificity

Question 15

hCG elevations in..

Answer 15

pregnancy
trophoblastic tumors
choricarcinoma
germ cell tumors of ovary and testes

Question 16

tumor markers; oncofetal antigens

Answer 16

normally expressed during fetal development
detectable during tumor formation
ex. CEA, AFP

Question 17

CEA tumor marker

Answer 17

carcinoembryonic antigen
expressed during: fetal devel., tumor growth, pancreatic/ GI/ lung/ ovarian cancers, breast cancer, cirrhosis, IBS, chronic lung disease, pancreatitis

Question 18

true or false
CEA is satisfactory tumor marker screening for healthy population

Answer 18

false: not satisfactory
used after malignancy has been confirmed
used to monitor tumor recurrence, and success of treatment

Question 19

AFP tumor marker

Answer 19

alpha fetoprotein
normal fetal prot.
synthesized by liver, yolk sac, GI tract
used as analyte for if baby is ready for delivery (transport prot. that regulates oncotic pressure)
elevations in hepatocellular tumors

Question 20

Alpha fetoprotein is associated with what tumor

Answer 20

germ cell tumor of testes and ovaries

Question 21

alpha fetoprotein levels are used for:

Answer 21

diagnosis
montioring recurrence and treatment response
determination of prognosis (>100K kU/Lhigh risk)

Question 22

AFP is less frequently elevated with what cancers

Answer 22

pancreatic
gastric
colonic
bronchogenic

Question 23

AFP as a biomarker

Answer 23

screen pregnant mothers for neural tube defects in fetus (spina bifida)

Question 24

tumor marker CA-125

Answer 24

mucin like glycoprotein
expressed on surface of coelomic epi during fetal development

Question 25

elevations of CA-125 is seen in

Answer 25

ovarian, enometrial, pancreatic, lung, breast, colon cancer
menstruation
pregnancy
endometriosis
gynecological conditions

Question 26

sensitivity of CA-125

Answer 26

85% ovarian cancer
50% + during early stage
higher levels assoc. w/ increasing tumor size

Question 27

tumor marker CA-125 is sensitive or insensitive test?

Answer 27

insensitive: only 20% positivity in early stage tumors

Question 28

CA-125 is useful in screening

Answer 28

BRCA1-2 carriers

Question 29

CA-125 is useful in monitoring..

Answer 29

ovarian cancer recurrence and treatment

Question 30

CA-19-9 tumor marker

Answer 30

high predictive value where tumor is present (differentiates benign from malignant)
found in pancreatic and biliary tract cancers
low predictive value as screening test

Question 31

CA-15-3 tumor marker

Answer 31

high moleuclar weight glycoprotein expressed on ductal cell surface of most glandular epi cells
associated w/ breast cancer

Question 32

is CA-15-3 tumor marker a differential or diagnostic test?

Answer 32

differential
not diagnostic- monitors metastasis after mastectomy

Question 33

elevations of CA-15-3 is seen in

Answer 33

pancreatic, lung, ovarian, colorectal, liver cancers
>32 U/ml indicative of advanced breast cancer

Question 34

tumor marker CA 27-29

Answer 34

monoclonal Ab to MUC1 (on surface of norm. epi in breast cancer)
not useful for screening

Question 35

sensitivity of CA 27-29 tumor marker

Answer 35

early stage 1/3+
late stage 2/3+

Question 36

Her2 tumor marker

Answer 36

prot. that stimulates growth of cancer cells
associated w/ increased tumor aggressiveness and reduced survival rate

Question 37

Her2 is encoded by what

Answer 37

oncogene
expressed in 15-20% of invasive breast cancers

Question 38

Her2 can also be elevated in what

Answer 38

stomach and esophageal cancers

Question 39

true or false
Her2+ tumor respond to drugs that target the receptor on cancer cells

Answer 39

true

Question 40

what mutations are associated w/ high risk of breast/ovarian cancer

Answer 40

BRCA1
BRCA2

Question 41

What are BRCA1 &2 mutations known as

Answer 41

familial breast-ovarian cancer syndrome

Question 42

BRCA1&2 are what type of genes?

Answer 42

tumor-suppressing genes

Question 43

what percentage risk for breast cancer does a person have who is + for the BRCA1&2 mutations?

Answer 43

85% lifetime risk for breast cancer
40% risk for ovarian