Tumor Markers

Question 1

PSA

Answer 1

Prostate-specific antigen. Used to follow prostate carcinoma. Can also be elevated in BPH and prostatitis. Questionable risk/benefit for screening.

Tumor markers should not be used as the 1 degree tool for cancer diagnosis. They may be used to confirm diagnosis, to monitor for tumor recurrence, and to monitor response to therapy.

Question 2

Prostatic acid phosphatase

Answer 2

Prostate carcinoma.

Question 3

CEA

Answer 3

CarcinoEmbryonic Antigen. Very nonspecific but produced by approximately 70% of colorectal and pancreatic cancers; also produced by gastric, breast, and medullary thyroid carcinomas.

Question 4

Alpha-fetoprotein

Answer 4

Normally made by fetus. Hepatocellular carcinomas. Nonsemiomatous germ cell tumors (e.g., testis, ovary).

Question 5

Beta-hCG

Answer 5

Hydatidiform moles and Choriocarcinomas (Gestational trophoblastic disease).

hCG is commonly associated with pregnancy.

Question 6

CA-125

Answer 6

Ovarian cancer.

Question 7

S-100

Answer 7

Melanoma, neural tumors, schwannomas.

Question 8

Alkaline phosphatase

Answer 8

Metastases to bone, liver, Paget’s disease of bone.

Question 9

Bombesin

Answer 9

Neuroblastoma, lung and gastric cancer.

Question 10

TRAP

Answer 10

Tartrate-Resistant Acid Aphophatase (TRAP).
Hairy cell leukemia - a B-cell neoplasm.

TRAP the hairy animal.

Question 11

CA-19-9

Answer 11

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Question 12

Calcitonin

Answer 12

Medullary thyroid carcinoma.