Tumour markers

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Tumour markers are molecules found in the blood which are sometimes secreted by some tumours. They may be helpful in confirming a diagnosis where cancer is suspected, but they are not by themselves diagnostic and may be present because of a number of other processes. Tumour markers are not routinely used as screening tests as they do not have high sensitivities at an early stage in the disease. In some cancers, tumour markers help monitor the effectiveness of the treatment, and tumour markers may be helpful in determining prognosis.

Some tumour markers include:

CA 27, CA29 - Breast cancer, also seen in colonic, gastric, hepatic, lung, pancreatic, ovarian and prostate cancer, other breast liver and kidney disorders and ovarian cysts.

CEA - Colorectal cancer, also seen in lung, gastric, pancreatic, breast and bladder cancers, medullary thyroid, and other head and neck, cervical and hepatic cancers, lymphomas, melanomas, smoking, peptic ulcers, inflammatory bowel diseases, pancreatitis, hypothyroidism, cirrhosis and biliary obstruction.

CA 10-9 - Pancreatic and biliary tract cancers- also seen in colonic, oesophageal, and hepatic cancers, pancreatitis, biliary disorders and cirrhosis.

AFP - Hepatocellular carcinoma, nonseminomatous germ cell tumours,

b-hCG- Nonseminomatous germ cell tumours, gestational trophoblastic disease

CA-125 Ovarian cancer- also seen in endometrial, fallopian tube, breast, lung, oesophageal, gastric, hepatic and pancreatic cancers. May also be positive during mensturation, pregnancy, with fibroids, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammation, endometriosis, ascites,  and pleural and pericardial effusions.

PSA - prostate cancer - also raised in prostatitis, benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostatic trauma and after ejaculation.


http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Tumour-Markers.htm

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