Tumour markers

Question 1

What is an elevated PSA a marker of?

Answer 1

Prostatitis, BPH and prostate carcinoma

Question 2

What is CA19-19 an indicator of?

Answer 2

1. Pancreatic cancer
2. Stomach cancer
3. Colorectal cancer
4. Bile duct cancer

Question 3

CA 15-3

Answer 3

1. Breast cancer
2. Lung, prostate and ovaries can cause raised ca 15-3 too

Question 4

CA 125

Answer 4

OVARIAN cancer (but is raised during menstruation and pregnancy)

Question 5

CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen)

Answer 5

Colorectal cancer, but can be raised in IBD and liver disease

Question 6

Alpha fetoprotein (ALPHA FP)

Answer 6

Hepatocellular carcinoma and germ cell tumours e.g. non seminomatous testicular cancer

Question 7

hCG

Answer 7

Choriocarcinoma (rare form of cancer caused by molar pregnancies) and Trophoblastic disease (name given to a group of tumours that form during abnormal pregnancies)

Question 8

NSE (neurone specific enolase)

Answer 8

1. Neuroblastoma
2. Small cell lung carcinoma
3. Wilm’s tumour
4. Melanoma