TUMOR MARKERS (ANTIGENS) Flashcards
Carcinomas of lung, breasts, uterus, ovarian cancers
CK7 (+)
Colon and stomach cancers
CK20 (+)
Transitional cell carcinomas of bladder and mucinous ovarian tumors
CK7 and CK20 positive
Renal cell carcinomas, liver carcinomas, prostatic adenocarcinomas, thyroid and squamous cell carcinomas
CK7 and CK20 negative
Helpful in determining the site of tumor, positive for breast adenocarcinomas, lungs, and kidneys
EMA (Epithelial Membrane Antigen)
Oncofetal antigen present in carcinomas of GI tract, pancreas, lung, breast, ovary, uterus, cervix, and differentiates adenocarcinoma (+) from mesothelioma (-)
CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen)
Distinguishes lung adenocarcinoma from mesothelioma; present in thyroid gland neoplasms
TTF (Thyroid Transcription Factor 1)
Positive in prostate adenocarcinoma, pancreatic and salivary tumors
PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen)
Normally found in breast epithelial cells but not myoepithelial cells; used for prognosis and treatment of breast cancer, and identifying metastatic breast cancer
ER/PR (Estrogen/Progesterone Receptor)
Sensitive marker for muscle differentiation; identifies tumors derived from smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscles
Actin
Present in mesenchymal cells and neoplastic cells; stains positive in sarcomas, lymphomas, leukemias, seminomas, neural tumors, melanomas, and schwannomas
Vimentin
Expressed by smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscle; highly specific for myogenic tumors
Desmin
Expressed by CNS glial cells, especially astrocytes; used in astrocytoma diagnosis
GFAP (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein)
Expressed by cells of neural origin; positive in neuroblastomas, ganglioneuromas, neuromas, and chemodectomas
NF (Neurofilament)
Calcium-binding protein; expressed by CNS glial cells, Schwann cells, melanocytes, histiocytes, chondrocytes, skeletal and cardiac muscles, myoepithelial cells, and epithelial cells of the breast, salivary, and sweat glands
S100 Protein
Positive for tumors with neural or neuroendocrine differentiation
NSE (Neuron-specific enolase)
Found in neural secretory granules of endocrine tissues; indicates neuroendocrine differentiation
Chromogranin
Present in presynaptic vesicles of neurons, normal neurons, and neuroendocrine cells
Synaptophysin
Synthesized by the placental syncytiotrophoblast; positive in choriocarcinoma and germ cell tumors
HCG
Synthesized by the normal liver; positive in hepatocellular carcinoma
AFP
Produced by placental syncytiotrophoblasts in late pregnancy; positive in germ cell tumors, embryonal carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, endodermal sinus tumor, and seminoma
PLAP (Placental-like Alkaline Phosphatase)
Markers for myogenic tumors; positive in tumors of skeletal muscle origin
Actin, Desmin, Myo D-1, Myoglobin, Myogenin
Markers for fibrohistiocytic tumors such as malignant fibrohistiocytoma; positive for these markers
CD68, FAM 56, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin, Alpha-1 Antichymotrypsin
Markers for vascular tumors such as angiosarcoma; positive for these endothelial markers
Factor VIII-related antigen, CD31, Ulex europaeus (UEA)
Melanoma markers; melanocytes derived from the neural crest; positive for these markers
S100 protein, HMB45 (Melanosome)
Markers for lymphoma; leukocyte common antigen also known as CD45 is the best screening marker
LCA (CD45), T cells (CD3, 4, 8), B cells (CD19, 20, 23), Reed Sternberg cells (CD15, 30, Ig light and heavy chains)
Cell proliferation markers used to assess tumor proliferation, aggressiveness, and metastasis potential
Ki-67 (MIB-1), PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen)
Cancer-associated genes; overexpression uncommon or absent in normal or benign cells; positive in malignant tumors
p53, HER2/C-erb B-2, c-myc, ras
Markers for infectious agents; include various viruses, fungi, and bacteria
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B surface and core antigens, Hepatitis C virus, HPV, CMV, EBV, Toxoplasma, Pneumocystis carinii, Helicobacter pylori, Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma, Entamoeba histolytica, Mycobacteria
