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Flashcards in Tumor Markers Deck (12)
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1
Q

What are tumor markers?

What are four things they are useful for?

Do elevated levels suggest CA?

A

Tumor markers: glycoprotein molecules in the blood that are detected by monoclonal abys

Useful for:

  • screening
  • determining diagnosis and prognosis
  • assessing response to therapy
  • monitoring for cancer recurrence.

No necessarily, elevated levels of tumor markers dont suggest CA. They may be caused by a condition or dz other than CA. Even some people with CA never have high levels.

2
Q

CA 15-3 & CA 27.29

  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • tissue analyzed?
  • how used?
  • found in?
  • what CA 27.29 becomes elevated what is it indicative of?
A

Most useful in Breast CA

TIssue analyzed: Blood (MUC1 gene)

How used: assess whether tx is working or dz has recurred.

Found in: colon, gastric, hepatic, lung, pancreatic, ovarian, and prostate CA.

Elevation of CA 27.29 is more indicative of metastatic dz.

3
Q

CEA (Carcinoembryonic Ag)

  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • tissue analyzed?
  • how used?
  • found in?
A
  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • -colorectal and breast cancer
  • tissue analyzed?
  • -blood (elevated in smokers)
  • how used?
  • -check whether colorectal CA has spread.
  • not useful in screening for colorectal CA.
  • found in?
  • -breast, lung, gastric, thyroid, lymphoma, and melanoma

(if levels exceed 10, its usually not due to benign disease. If its over 100, there might be mets)

4
Q

CA 19-9

  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • tissue analyzed?
  • how used?
  • found in?
A
  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • -Pancreatic*, Gallbladder, bile duct, and gastric cancer
  • tissue analyzed?
  • -Blood (less than 37 units/ml)
  • how used?
  • -assess if tx is working
  • -no value in screening
  • found in?
  • -Colon, esophageal, hepatic cancers

(levels above 1000 units/ml predict presence of metastatic disease

5
Q

AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein)

  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • tissue analyzed?
  • how used?
  • found in?
A
  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • -Liver and Germ cell tumors
  • tissue analyzed?
  • -Blood (5.4ng/ml)
  • how used?
  • -help dx liver cancer and follows response to tx
  • -assess stage, prognosis, and response to tx of germ cell tumors
  • found in?
  • -gastric, biliary, and pancreatic cancers
6
Q

Beta-HCG

  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • tissue analyzed?
  • how used?
  • found in?
  • also used with AFP for what tumors?
A
  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • -Choriocarinoma (uterus tumor) and testicular cancer
  • tissue analyzed?
  • -urine or blood less than 5mlU/ml)
  • how used?
  • -assess stage, prognosis, and response to tx
  • -no role in screening
  • found in?
  • -GI CA

-Also used with AFP for nonseminomatous germ cell tumors

7
Q

CA 125

  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • tissue analyzed?
  • how used?
  • found in?
A
  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • -Ovarian CA
  • tissue analyzed?
  • -Blood (less than 35 units/ml)
  • how used?
  • -help dx, assessment of response to tx and evaluations
  • not a good screening marker
  • found in?
  • -endometrial, fallopian tube, breast, lung, esophageal, hepatic

(elevated most often with epithelial ovarian cancer)

8
Q

PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen)

  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • tissue analyzed?
  • how used?
  • found in?
A
  • most useful in detecting which CA?
  • -Prostate CA
  • tissue analyzed?
  • -blood, (less than 4ng/mg for screening)
  • how used?
  • -help dx, assess response to tx, and look for recurrence
  • this is the only one we have for screening**
  • found in?
  • -Prostate
9
Q

PSA

  • When do PSA levels return to normal?
  • What drugs will affect the PSA level?
  • What rate of increase is predictive of cancer?
A
  • PSA levels return to normal 6-8 weeks after sx
  • Taking Finasteride (Proscar) or Dutasteride (Avodart) for 6 months will decrease PSA in half
  • a velocity of 0.75ng/ml per year or doubling time is predictive of CA
10
Q

What is the only marker used to screen for a common type of cancer?

A

PSA!

11
Q

PSA
-When do you have the discussion about risk and benefits of screening in men?

-How often are levels checked post tx?

A
  • Men ages 55-69 need discussion about risk and benefits

- Post tx levels are checked every 6 months for 5 years and then annually

12
Q

What is proteomics?

A

Proteomics
-the study of protein structure, function, and patterns of expression

-a research method looking at patterns of gene expression for prognosis and response to tx