Tumor Markers

Question 1

Alkaline phosphatase

Answer 1

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

Question 2

α-fetoprotein

Answer 2

Hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoblastoma, yolk sac (endodermal sinus) tumor, mixed germ cell tumor.

Question 3

β-hCG

Answer 3

Hydatidiform moles and Choriocarcinomas (Gestational trophoblastic disease), testicular cancer, mixed germ cell tumor.

Question 4

CA 15-3/CA 27-29

Answer 4

breast cancer

Question 5

CA 19-9

Answer 5

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Question 6

CA 125

Answer 6

Ovarian cancer

Question 7

Calcitonin

Answer 7

Medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Question 8

CEA - CarcinoEmbryonic Antigen

Answer 8

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

Question 9

PSA

Answer 9

Prostate cancer.

Can also be elevated in BPH and prostatitis. Questionable risk/benefit for screening.

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Alkaline phosphatase

Question 11

Hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoblastoma, yolk sac (endodermal sinus) tumor, mixed germ cell tumor.

Answer 11

α-fetoprotein

Question 12

Hydatidiform moles and Choriocarcinomas (Gestational trophoblastic disease), testicular cancer, mixed germ cell tumor.

Answer 12

β-hCG

Question 13

breast cancer

Answer 13

CA 15-3/CA 27-29

Question 14

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Answer 14

CA 19-9

Question 15

Ovarian cancer

Answer 15

CA 125

Question 16

Medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Answer 16

Calcitonin

Question 17

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

Answer 17

CEA - CarcinoEmbryonic Antigen

Question 18

Prostate cancer.

Can also be elevated in BPH and prostatitis. Questionable risk/benefit for screening.

Answer 18

PSA