TUMOR MARKERS TERMS

Question 1

category of substances produced by malignant or benign cells in response to the presence of malignancy

Answer 1

tumor marker

Question 2

used to describe molecular markers that predict disease free survival, disease specific survival and overall survival

Answer 2

prognostic markers

Question 3

used in the context of predicting response to certain therapies

Answer 3

predictive markers

Question 4

indicate host injury and response

nonspecific for malignancy and indicates inflammatory response

Answer 4

serum proteins or molecules as tumor markers

Question 5

usually secreted by tumor cells into circulation

functionally identical to the native hormone

Answer 5

ectopic hormones as tumor markers

Question 6

found on the cell membrane or in the cytoplasm

functionally, can modify tumor behavior

Answer 6

hormone receptors

Question 7

produced by fetal cells during development but not normally produced by adult cells

used to detect recurrence and metastasis, flow response to therapy, and to assess prognosis

Answer 7

oncofetal antigens

Question 8

what is this oncofetal antigen

glycoprotein produced by mucin secreting glandular epithelium in the fetus

detects: colorectal carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, lung, gastric, and breast cancer

best used in monitoring post op/post treatment recurrence

Answer 8

carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Question 9

what is this oncofetal antigen

glycoprotein that is the predominant component of serum proteins in early embryonic life

detects: hepatocellular carcinoma, germ cell tumors of the testis, and carcinomas of the colon, lung, and pancreas

lacks sensitivity because a lot things false positives:
cirrhosis
massive liver necrosis
normal pregnancy
fetal neural tube defects

Answer 9

alpha fetoprotein (AFP)

Question 10

present in several tissues, structurally similar isotopes, assayed in the serum

Answer 10

enzymes

Question 11

what are the examples of the two main enzymes used as tumor markers?

Answer 11

alkaline phosphatase

acid phosphatase

Question 12

name this enzyme

have several isoenzymes in the bone, liver, placenta, intestine and regan

detects osteoblastic lesions like osteosarcomas

Answer 12

alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

Question 13

name this enzyme

numerous isoenzymes in bone, prostate, erythrocytes and platelets

detects prostate carcinomas and osteolytic metastasis

Answer 13

acid phosphatase (ACP)

Question 14

intermediate filaments that are cell type specific measured on or in tumor cells, not in serum

examples: S-100=melanoma, Ca-125=ovarian cancer

Answer 14

cellular markers as tumor markers

Question 15

serine protease that cleaves and liquifies seminal coagulum after ejaculation

Answer 15

prostate specific antgen

Question 16

A high-molecular-weight antigenic determinant on a glycoprotein shed into the bloodstream by malignant cells derived from malignant cells coming from coelomic epithelium

Increased in patients with ovarian, endometrial, pancreatic, and other cancers

Answer 16

CA 125

Question 17

An epitope of a large membrane glycoprotein encoded by the MUC1 gene that tumor cells shed into the bloodstream

Most useful in following the course of treatment in women with advanced breast cancer

Answer 17

CA 15-3

Question 18

Can be elevated in cancers of the:
▪ breast
▪ colon
▪ gastric
▪ kidneys
▪ lung
▪ ovarian (carcinoma)
▪ pancreatic (carcinoma)
▪ uterine (carcinoma)
▪ hepatic (carcinoma)

Answer 18

CA 27-29

Question 19

○ Produced by:
▪ Colon
▪ Pancreatic
▪ Biliary cancers
○ Not useful for screening, diagnosis, surveillance, or monitoring for colon or pancreatic cancer
▪ May have a role in prognosis
○ May have a role in monitoring therapy in patients with advanced cancer

Answer 19

CA 19-9