Tumor Markers Flashcards
1
Q
What are tumor markers?
Each marker has a variable profile of usefulness for? 4
A
- Glycoprotein molecules in the blood that are detected by monoclonal antibodies
- Each marker has a variable profile of usefulness for:
- Screening
- Determining diagnosis and prognosis
- Assessing response to therapy
- Monitoring for cancer recurrence
2
Q
- Where are the tumor markers found? 3
2. How do we utilize these?
A
- Found in
- blood,
- urine, or
- body tissue of some patients with cancer - Measurements can be useful when used along with x-rays or other test in the detection of some types of cancer
3
Q
- Tumor Marker function?
- Elevated levels suggest?
- At what time are they measured? 3
A
- Help detect, diagnose, and manage some types of cancers
- Elevated levels don’t suggest cancer necessarily
- Measured before treatment to help plan appropriate therapy
- Markers are measured during cancer therapy
- Markers are used to check recurrences
4
Q
Desrcibe the “Ideal Tumor Marker”?
5
A
“Ideal” Tumor Marker
- Highly specific
Detectable in only one tumor type - Highly sensitive
Non-detectable in physiological or benign disease states - Long lead time
Sufficient time for alteration of natural course of the disease - Levels correlate with tumor burden
- In reality no ideal tumor marker exist
5
Q
What are the limitations of tumor markers?
6
A
- Elevated marker level may be caused by a condition or disease other than cancer
- Some maker levels may be high in people without cancer
- Marker levels may vary over time
- Almost every one has a small amount of these markers
- Levels tend to get higher only when a large amount of cancer is present
- Some people with cancer never have high levels
6
Q
What factors other than the presence of cancer may cause abnormal tumor markers?
4
A
- Persons age and
- gender
- Which test kit the lab uses
- How the test is done
7
Q
CA 15-3 and CA 27.29
- Cancer type?
- Tissues analyzed?
- Used how?
- Found in? 7
A
- Cancer type: Breast cancer
- Tissue analyzed: Blood (MUC1 gene)
- How used: assess weather treatment is working or disease has recurred
- Found in:
- colon,
- gastric,
- hepatic,
- lung,
- pancreatic,
- ovarian, and
- prostate cancers
8
Q
CA 15-3 and CA 27.29
Elevation in 1.____ of women with early-stage (I or II) and 2.____ of women with late-stage breast cancer (III or IV)
A
- 1/3
2. 2/3
9
Q
CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN (CEA) 1. Cancer types? 2
- Tissue analyzed?
- Used how? 2
- Found in? 6
- Sensitivy increases with what?
- Not useful for what with colorectal cancer?
- What is its main role for colorectal cancer?
A
- Cancer type:
- Colorectal and
- breast cancer - Tissue analyzed: Blood
- How used:
- Check whether colorectal cancer has spread
- To look for breast cancer recurrence and assess response to treatment - Found in:
- breast,
- lung,
- gastric,
- thyroid,
- lymphoma, and
- melanoma - Sensitivity increases with advancing tumor stage
- Not useful in screening for colorectal cancer
- Role is to follow patients for relapse after intended curative treatment for colorectal cancer
10
Q
What will CEA normals be in smokers and nonsmokers?
A
Blood
- less than 2.5ng/ml nonsmokers or
- less than 5ng/ml in smokers
11
Q
CANCER ANTIGEN 19-9 CA 19-9 1. Cancer types? 4 2. Tissue? Normal level? 3. Used how? 4. Found in? 3
A
- Cancer types:
- Pancreatic,
- Gallbladder,
- Bile duct, and
- Gastric cancer - Tissue: Blood (less than 37 units/ml)
- How used: assess if treatment is working
- Found in:
- Colon,
- esophageal,
- hepatic cancers
12
Q
- CA 19-9 role in screening?
2. Levels above _____ units/ml predict presence of metastatic disease
A
- No value in screening
2. 1,000
13
Q
ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN (AFP)
- Cancer types?
- Tissue? Normal level?
- Used how? 2
- FOund in? 3
A
- Cancer types:
- Liver and
- Germ cell tumors - Tissue: Blood (5.4ng/ml)
- How used:
-Help diagnose liver cancer and
follows response to treatment, and
-assess stage, prognosis, and response to treatment of germ cell tumors - Found in:
- Gastric,
- biliary, and
- pancreatic cancers
14
Q
AFP
- Abnormal levels in 80% of patients with what?
- Screening use?
A
- hepatocellular cancer
2. Screening under debate
15
Q
BETA-HCG
- Cancer types? 2
- Tissue? 2 Normal levels?
- Used how?
- Found in?
A
- Cancer types:
- Choriocarcinoma and
- testicular cancer - Tissue: Urine or blood (less than 5mlU/ml)
- How used: Asses stage, prognosis, and response to treatment
- Found in: Gastrointestinal cancers