Tumor markers - Which tumor marker to send?

Tumor markers - Which tumor marker to send?

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Introduction of Tumor markers

Tumor markers are soluble glycoproteins that are found in the blood, urine, or tissues of patients with certain types of cancer.

They are used to help diagnose cancer, monitor treatment, and check for recurrence.

Where do tumor markers come from ?

They are typically produced by tumor cells, but in some cases they may be produced by the body in response to malignancy or to certain benign conditions.

Not all tumors or cancers give tumor markers but some may. They sometimes may not necessarily be produced due to cancer but by normal  condition or tissue as well.

What the common tumor markers and what are they used to diagnose ? List

Here are some common tumor markers and the types of cancer they are associated with:

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) - 

Used primarily to diagnose and monitor prostate cancer.

CA 125 (Cancer Antigen 125) - 

Used mainly for ovarian cancer diagnosis and monitoring, though it can also be elevated in other conditions.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) - 

Often used in the management of colorectal cancer, but can also be elevated in cancers of the lung, breast, pancreas, and stomach.

CA 19-9 (Cancer Antigen 19-9) - 

Primarily used for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and monitoring, and sometimes for gastrointestinal cancers.

Not all tumors or cancers give tumor markers but some may. They sometimes may not necessarily be produced due to cancer but by normal  condition or tissue as well.

Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) - 

Used to diagnose and monitor liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and germ cell tumors, such as testicular cancer.

Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (β-hCG) - 

Used to diagnose and monitor germ cell tumors, including testicular and ovarian cancers.

HER2/neu - 

Not a traditional marker in blood tests, but a protein overexpressed in some breast cancer cells; it is used to guide treatment decisions for HER2-positive breast cancers.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 - 

Genetic mutations rather than traditional markers, these are used to assess risk for breast and ovarian cancers.

Calcitonin - 

Elevated levels can indicate medullary thyroid cancer.

S100 - 

Used primarily to monitor melanoma.

These markers are most effective when used alongside other diagnostic tools, as they can sometimes be elevated in non-cancerous conditions or not elevated in all cases of cancer.

Tumor markers in colon Cancers

There are different tumor markers that can be used to diagnose, monitor and treat the colon  cancer that includes:

common tumor markers

What are Some Gynecological tumor markers?

Major Gynecological tumor markers includes following:

1. Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125)
2. Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG)
3. Urinary gonadotropin fragment
4. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
5. Inhibin
6. Estradiol
7. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
8. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen
9. Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS)
10. Topoisomerase II
11. Carbohydrate antigen 19-9
12. Cancer antigen 27-29
13. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)
14. Ferritin
    

While minor Gynecological tumor markers includes following:

1. Lysophosphatidic acid
2. MIB1-determined tumor growth fraction
3. L1 (CAM)
4. Mesothelin
5. Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4)
6. Osteopontin
7. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
8. Interleukin 8 (IL-8)
9. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF)
10. Insulinlike growth factor–binding protein-3
11. Tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor
12. Cyclin E
13. OVX1
14. CA-15-3, CA-19-9

colon cancer tumor marker

colon cancer tumor marker blood test

colon cancer tumor marker numbers

colon cancer tumor marker range

colon cancer tumor marker number cea level chart

Why are tumor markers Important?

Clinical usefulness of tumor markers coems into play when there is nothing visible as tumor or cancer but there is something going on.  The usefulness of a tumor marker is in its sensitivity and specificity, as well as its influence on patient management decisions

What is the tumor marker for colon cancer?

The primary tumor marker used for colon cancer is carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).

CEA is a protein that can be found in higher levels in the blood of people with colon cancer, although it can also be elevated in other conditions.

It's often used to monitor treatment response and check for recurrence, rather than for initial diagnosis.

What is a normal tumor marker for colon cancer?

The level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the blood can vary, but generally, a normal CEA level is less than 5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). 

However, it's important to note that CEA levels can vary based on individual factors and may be elevated in conditions other than colon cancer. 

Therefore, CEA levels are usually used in conjunction with other diagnostic methods and clinical evaluations.

what is a high tumor marker number for colon cancer?

Tumor marker value will be considered high if its more than  ng/ ml. cea tumor marker normal range

is always less than 5 ng/dL.

cea tumor marker normal range can be affected by Smoking, Liver disease, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Pancreatitis, Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Benign tumors, Age,

Pregnancy, Recent surgery, Infections etc. 

What tumor marker is used for colon cancer?

CEA also called carcinoembryonic antigen A is the main tumor marker useful in colon cancer.

which tumor marker is used to monitor colon cancer patients post treatment?

CEA is the tumor marker used to monitor disease in case of post treatment ca colon.

what is a normal tumor marker for colon cancer?

CEA.

Feel free to contact us if you have any otherr queries.