TUMOR MARKERS Flashcards
• Substances detected in increased amounts in blood, urine or body tissues of some patients with certain types of CA
Tumor markers
Tumor markers IMPORTANCE
- Tumor marker levels are utilized to follow the course of the disease
- To measure the effect of treatment
- To check for recurrence
- Reflects the extent of the disease
- Indicates how quickly the disease is likely to progress (prognosis)
TYPES OF TUMOR MARKERS
very small amounts in the blood of healthy individuals
I. CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN (CEA)
Increased in some people with CA or non-cancerous conditions
I. CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN (CEA)
Most commonly used CEA
colorectal cancer
E.g. - 50% of those with CA of the colon, pancreas, stomach, lung or breast
CEA
cigarette smokers
I. CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN (CEA)
patients with ulcerative colitis, liver disease & lung infection
I. CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN (CEA)
Not specific but sensitive
I. CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN (CEA)
VII. LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE (LDH)
Replaced by prostatic acid phosphatase
PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA)
Produced by both normal & abnormal prostate cells
PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA)
Elevated in men who have a benign growth (very common in older men) or malignant growth in the prostate
PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA)
40 years and older
leading cause of death from cancer in the Ph
muscle weakness, bladder pain
PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA)
indicative for the need for other tests to determine whether CA is present
PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA)
Useful in monitoring the effectiveness of prostate CA treatment
PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA)
PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA) NV:
<2.5 nanograms/mL
PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA) Confirmatory test:
Digital rectal exam
A single test w/ mildly elevated levels may not be significant
PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA)