Tumor markers are substances that are produced by cancerous or other cells of the body in response to the appearance of cancer or certain benign (non-cancerous) formations. Most tumor markers are produced by both normal cells and cancer cells, however, they are produced in greater quantities in cancer. These substances may be found in the blood, urine, stool, tumor tissue, or other tissues and body fluids of some cancer patients. Most tumor markers are proteins. However, recently, gene expression patterns and altered DNA are beginning to be used as tumor markers. Tumor markers of the latter type are assessed in tumor tissue in particular.

So far, more than 20 different tumor markers used in clinical practice have been described. Some are associated with only one type of cancer, while others are associated with two or more types of cancer. There is no “universal” tumor marker that can identify any type of cancer.

Key points

• Tumor markers are substances found in the blood, urine, stool, other body fluids, or tissues of some patients with cancer.
• Tumor markers can be used to help diagnose cancer, predict a patient's response to certain cancer treatments, test a patient's response to treatment, or determine whether cancer has returned.
• More than 20 tumor markers are currently used.

Tumor marker levels can be measured before treatment to help clinicians plan appropriate therapy. For some types of cancer, tumor marker levels reflect the stage (severity) of the disease and the patient's prognosis (likely outcome or course of the disease).

Tumor markers may also be measured periodically during cancer treatment. A decrease in tumor marker levels or a return to normal levels may indicate that the cancer is responding to treatment, while a change or increase may indicate that the cancer is not responding to treatment.

Tumor markers may also be assessed after treatment is completed to check for relapse (cancer returning).

How are they measured?

What tumor markers are currently used, and for what types of cancer?

A number of tumor markers are currently used to detect a wide range of cancer types. Although most can be tested in laboratories that meet the standards set by the Clinical Laboratory Development Guidelines, some tumor markers have not been tested and therefore may be considered experimental. The tumor markers that are mainly used nowadays are listed below.

Genetically modified ALK

• Types of cancer: non-small cell lung cancer and anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
• Tissue for analysis: tumor.
• How it is used: to help determine treatment and prognosis.

Alpha fetoprotein (AFP)

• Types of cancer: liver cancer and germ cell tumors.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How it is used: To help diagnose liver cancer and check whether there is a response to treatment; to assess the stage, prognosis and response to treatment of germ cell tumors.

Beta-2-microglobulin (B2M)

• Types of cancer: multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and some lymphomas.
• Tissues to be tested: blood, urine or cerebrospinal fluid.
• How it is used: To determine prognosis and response to treatment.

Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (Beta-hCG)

• Types of cancer: choriocarcinoma and testicular cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: urine or blood.

BCR-ABL gene synthesis

• Types of cancer: chronic myeloid leukemia.
• Tissues for analysis: blood and/or bone marrow.
• How it is used: to confirm the diagnosis and monitor the course of the disease.

BRAF mutation V600E

• Types of cancer: cutaneous melanomas and colorectal cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: tumor.
• How to use: Predict response to targeted therapy.

CA15-3/CA27.29

• Type of cancer: breast cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How to use: to assess the effectiveness of treatment and the risk of disease return.

CA19-9

• Types of cancer: pancreatic cancer, gallbladder cancer, biliary tract cancer and stomach cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How to use: To evaluate whether a treatment is effective.

Sa-125

• Type of cancer: ovarian cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How to use: To aid in diagnosis, assessment of response to treatment, and assessment of cyclicity.

Calcitonin

• Type of cancer: medullary thyroid cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How it is used: To assist in diagnosis, test the effectiveness of treatment and evaluate the possibility of recurrence.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

• Types of cancer: colorectal cancer and breast cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How to use: To check whether colorectal cancer has spread; determining breast cancer recurrence and assessing response to treatment.

• Type of cancer: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How to use: To determine if targeted therapy is appropriate.

Chromogranin A (CgA)

• Type of cancer: neuroendocrine tumors.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How to use: To aid in diagnosis, evaluation of treatment outcome, and assessment of cyclicity.

Chromosomes 3, 7, 17, and 9p21

• Tissue for analysis: urine.
• How to use: To help control tumor recurrences.

Cytokeratin 21-1 fragments

• Type of cancer: lung cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How it is used: To help monitor the recurrence of the disease.

EGFR mutation analysis

• Type of cancer: non-small cell lung cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: tumor.
• How to use: To help determine treatment and prognosis.

Estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR)

• Type of cancer: breast cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: tumor.
• How to use: To determine if hormone therapy (such as tamoxifen) is appropriate.

Fibrin/fibrinogen

• Type of cancer: bladder cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: urine.
• How to use: Monitor progress and response to treatment.

• Type of cancer: ovarian cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How it is used: to assess disease progression and detect relapse.

HER2/neu

• Types of cancer: breast cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: tumor.
• How to use: To determine if treatment with trastuzumab is appropriate.

Immunoglobulins

• Types of cancer: multiple myeloma and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.
• Tissue for analysis: blood and urine.
• How to use: To help diagnose disease, evaluate response to treatment, and detect recurrence of disease.

• Types of cancer: gastrointestinal stromal tumors and mucosal melanomas.
• Tissue for analysis: tumor.
• How to use: To help diagnose and determine treatment.

NCR mutation analysis

• Types of cancer: colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: tumor.
• How to use: To determine if targeted therapy is appropriate.

Lactate dehydrogenase

• Type of cancer: germ cell tumors.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How it is used: To assess stage, prognosis and response to treatment.

Nuclear matrix protein 22

• Type of cancer: bladder cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: urine.
• How to use: Monitor response to treatment.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

• Type of cancer: prostate cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How to use: To aid in diagnosis, assess response to treatment, and detect relapse.

Thyroglobulin

• Type of cancer: thyroid cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: tumor.
• How to use: To assess response to treatment and detect relapse.

Urokinase profibrinolysine activator (UPA) and profibrinolysine activator inhibitor (PAI-1)

• Type of cancer: breast cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: tumor.
• How it is used: To determine the aggressiveness of cancer and guide treatment.

5-Squirrel signature (Ova1)

• Type of cancer: ovarian cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: blood.
• How it is used: for preoperative assessment of pelvic mass in cases of suspected ovarian cancer.

21-Gene signature (Oncotype DX)

• Type of cancer: breast cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: tumor.
• How to use: assess the risk of relapse.

70-Gene signature (Mammaprint)

• Type of cancer: breast cancer.
• Tissue for analysis: tumor.
• How to use: assess the risk of relapse.

Can tumor markers be used in cancer screening?

Because tumor markers can be used to assess tumor response to treatment and for prognosis, the researchers hoped they could also be useful for screening tests, which are designed to detect cancer before any symptoms appear. For tumor markers to be useful for screening tests, they must have high sensitivity (the ability to correctly identify people who have the disease) and specificity (the ability to correctly identify people who have the disease). Not have a disease). If a test is very sensitive, it will be able to identify most people with a particular disease, meaning there will be virtually no false negative results. If the test is highly specific, only a small number of people who do not have a particular disease will test positive for the disease, in other words, there will be very few false positives.

Although tumor markers are extremely useful in determining whether a tumor is responding to treatment and in assessing the occurrence of disease recurrence, non-tumor tumor markers tested to date that are sufficiently sensitive or specific can be used on their own for cancer screening.

For example, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which measures the level of PSA in the blood, is often used to detect prostate cancer in men. However, elevated PSA levels can be caused by benign prostate diseases as well as prostate cancer, and most men with elevated PSA levels do not have prostate cancer. The first results were obtained from two large randomized control trials conducted by the National Cancer Institute on the detection of prostate, lung, colon, ovarian (or PCOS) cancers and the European Randomized Prostate Cancer Screening Trial. The PSA test has shown that, at best, it leads to only a small reduction in the number of deaths from prostate cancer. Additionally, it is not clear whether the benefits of PSA screening will outweigh the harms of subsequent diagnostic tests and treatments for cancers that are not life-threatening in most cases.

Similarly, the POC results showed that CA-125, a tumor marker that is sometimes elevated in the blood of women with ovarian cancer and may also be elevated in women with benign disease, was not sensitive or specific enough. The test was used in conjunction with transvaginal ultrasound testing for ovarian cancer in women at average risk of developing the disease. An analysis of 28 potential markers of ovarian cancer in the blood of women who subsequently developed ovarian cancer showed that none of these tumor markers did as good a job as CA-125 in detecting the disease in women at average risk.

What research is being done to develop more accurate tumor markers?

Cancer researchers are turning to proteomics (the study of protein structure, function, and expression patterns) in hopes of developing new biomarkers that can be used to detect disease early, to predict the effectiveness of treatment, or to predict the likelihood of cancer recurrence after treatment is completed.

Scientists are also evaluating gene expression patterns for their ability to predict a patient's prognosis and response to treatment. For example, the research-funded TAILORx study, based on repeated assessment in the Oncotype DX test, was conducted on women with negative lymph node cancer, hormonally sensitive breast cancer, who had undergone surgery in combination with various types of treatment. One of the goals of the study is to determine whether women whose assessment indicates they are at average risk of relapse would benefit from adding chemotherapy to hormone therapy, or whether these women can safely avoid chemotherapy. The test accumulates the amount of information it needs and it can be available several years before the results are received.

The Early Detection Research Network is a research effort that develops and tests specific biomarkers based on genomics and proteomics.

The Cancer Clinical Trials Evaluation Program (CCTEP), an initiative of the Cancer Diagnostics Research Program of the Division of Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment, was designed to ensure that the development of the next generation of laboratory tests is efficient and effective. The POKIR strategic group includes scientists from academia, industry, and research who are developing criteria for assessing the readiness of tumor markers for further development. POCIR also aims to improve access to human subjects, standardize reagents, control materials, and support research approval. The new program, the Clinical Analysis Development Program, was created to help researchers develop promising tests that can predict which treatment is best to carry out, or will be able to determine, in particular, the degree of aggressiveness of cancer.

Oncological diseases in the modern world are one of the most pressing and serious problems available. Despite the constant study of the essence, man has not yet learned how to effectively and reliably fight it.However, it should be noted that there is still a positive effect from scientific research on oncological pathologies.

In addition to slowing down their development, people have learned to carry out precancerous diagnostics, which help to identify the fact of their presence at the early or even preclinical stages of the development of terrible diseases.This happens through specialized tests, the results of which pay special attention to certain substances called “tumor markers.”

In today’s material we will talk about them, the norm of their content in the body and the features of their definition. Interesting? Then be sure to read the article below to the end.

As noted above, tumor markers are a type of substance that may be present in a person’s blood and indicate the risk or onset of oncological pathology. From a scientific point of view, these substances are represented by peculiar proteins that can be found in many human biomaterials: from saliva to blood and urine.

In a completely healthy person, tumor markers are either completely or practically absent. But in people who have developing cancer or a predisposition to it, such substances are necessarily observed in the body.

The fact is that tumor markers are nothing more than products of the development of cancer tumors. Simply put, when a malignant tumor appears, the affected tissues begin to release these substances into the blood, which over time are distributed throughout the body and are easily determined by appropriate tests.

After conducting specialized diagnostics, within a few days a person can determine the value of tumor markers in his body.

This parameter is very important not only in the direct detection of oncology, but also in organizing therapy for it, as it allows you to monitor the effectiveness of treatment. This is due to the fact that the number of tumor markers in the body directly depends on the severity and nature of the course of cancer pathology.

Despite their thoughtfulness, tumor marker tests are not perfect. As medical practice shows, there is always a risk that an increase in these substances in the blood is a consequence not of oncology, but of other diseases of the body (sometimes even of a non-tumor nature). Given this state of affairs, determining the level of tumor markers is always complex and reusable. Otherwise, it is simply unacceptable to accept the indicator as truth, and even more so to treat a person for cancer with a one-time positive “tumor marker” diagnosis.

Types and their characteristics

Some tumor markers are associated with one type of cancer, and some are associated with two or more

Tumor markers were first identified more than 170 years ago by Dr. Ben Johnson. Since then, a lot of time has been devoted to the study of such proteins, as a result of which modern medicine has high-quality information about 200 different tumor markers. Each type of protein substance is able to “tell” about the damage to a particular organism and its severity.

Naturally, for a non-professional physician, studying all tumor markers is pointless, but it would be useful even for an ordinary person to become familiar with the most common types of them. Our resource has selected 12 basic proteins that are actively produced by tumors in high-frequency cancers.

Let's look at them in more detail:

• Cancer-embryonic antigen () is a general tumor marker that increases in many cancer pathologies. Mainly, a high level of CEA indicates the presence of malignant neoplasms in the respiratory, digestive and genitourinary systems. Also, an increased concentration of this substance is observed in oncological lesions, bone and. In other types of cancer, the level of CEA changes insignificantly, although it may indirectly indicate their development.
• Alphafetoprotein () is one of the main tumor markers for diagnosing the female body. Often, its incorrect level indicates three basic lesions of the body - tumors in the genitourinary system, liver oncology and esophageal cancer. In other cases, both in women and men, the level of AFP in the body changes extremely rarely.
• – a protein compound often found in people with cancer pathologies and liver. Perhaps the profile disease for this tumor marker is pancreatic cancer, since in this disease CA 19-9 is always elevated.
• CA 72-4 is an antigen produced by the body in many cancers. A pronounced increase in this is often observed in oncology in the gastrointestinal tract and. During the period of therapy, the level of CA 72-4 is monitored to determine the effectiveness of organized therapy, while the location of tumor formations does not play a role.
• Mucin-like cancer antigen (MCA or ) is a tumor marker predominantly found in women. First of all, an increase in its level is associated with oncology. In addition, abnormal levels of MSA can be observed in both sexes with cancer of the liver and bone marrow.
• - another predominantly female antigen, often used to diagnose ovarian and genitourinary cancer in general. Less commonly, this tumor marker is used to diagnose both men and women for gastrointestinal and lung cancer.
• SCC is a group of protein substances, the level of which increases in cancer of the genitourinary system in both sexes. Most often found in the female half of humanity with uterine cancer.
• Neurospecific enolase (NSE) is a profile tumor marker for both sexes, used to detect cancer of the respiratory and endocrine systems.
• CYFRA 21-1 is also a fairly profile antigen, the concentration of which often increases in the body during lung cancer. In rare cases, this tumor marker deviates from the norm in other types of oncology.
• Chorionic gonadotropin () is one of the few representatives of this list that can increase its level quite naturally (for example, during pregnancy in women). In the absence of reasons for an acceptable increase, the tumor marker indicates cancerous lesions of the genitourinary and respiratory systems.
• Prostate-specific antigen () is an exclusively male antigen, which, when elevated, indicates cancer of the genitourinary system.
• Beta 2-microglobulin is a fairly multidisciplinary tumor marker that can indicate cancerous lesions of various types in the body. In modern medicine, it is most often used to diagnose blood and oncology.

Despite the total number of tumor markers within 200, it is those noted above that represent the basis of substances that are determined for the primary diagnosis of cancer of any type.

Naturally, the average person does not need to know about each of them in more detail, but it is definitely worth considering at least in general terms, since no one is immune from cancer and it is better to identify them at the earliest possible stage of development. By the way, if you have the necessary knowledge and are periodically examined at the clinic, this will not be difficult to do.

Preparation and analysis procedure

Testing for the presence of tumor markers in the body is a specialized analysis of the biomaterials of the person being examined. Almost always, blood taken from both a finger and a vein is sent first to the laboratory table.

To eliminate the risk of incorrect examination results, before undergoing one, any person should follow simple preparatory measures.

Basic preparation for tumor marker analysis includes:

1. Refusal of alcoholic beverages, fatty, pickled and smoked foods 2-3 days before collecting biomaterial.
2. Restriction from significant stress both psycho-emotionally and physically the day before the study.
3. It is advisable to compile a list of all medications taken and notify the diagnostician about them before the day of blood donation.

It is better to come directly for analysis in the morning and be sure to do so. During the collection of biomaterial, you should adhere to all the advice and requests of the diagnostician, providing him with exclusively reliable information about yourself.

More information about tumor markers can be found in the video:

After donating blood, the results are usually prepared within 2-5 days and are provided with a competent explanation either to the person being examined or to his treating specialist.

Norm of results and reason for deviations

It was previously noted that there are about 200 types of tumor markers in modern medicine. Naturally, we will not consider normal blood levels for all of them today. However, we will definitely go over the basic antigens.

Tumor marker	Normal value
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)	up to 3 ng/ml
Alphafetoprotein (ACE)	up to 15 ng/ml
SA 19-9	up to 37 units/ml
SA 72-4	up to 4 units/ml
SA 15-3	up to 28 units/ml
SCC	up to 2.5 ng/ml
Neuron-specific enolase (NSE)	up to 12.5 ng/ml
CYFRA 21-1	up to 3.3 ng/ml
hCG	0-5 IU/ml (in men and non-pregnant women)
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)	up to 2.5 g/ml (men under 40 years old) up to 4 ng/ml (men over 40 years old)
Beta 2-microglobulin	1.2-2.5 mg/l

The reasons for deviations from the presented indicators can be not only cancer. In approximately 15-20% of cases with an increase in the level of tumor markers in the blood, other pathologies of the body or certain factors (pregnancy, smoking, drinking alcohol, etc.) are to blame.

Perhaps that’s all on the topic of today’s article. We hope that the material presented was useful to you and provided answers to your questions. Good health to you and successful tests!

Cancer is a terrible disease, not always treatable, which dooms a person to slow and painful decline. Statistical data indicate a rapid growth rate of oncology among the population. Enormous medical knowledge and resources have been devoted to the fight against cancer. An achievement is the breakthrough of modern diagnostic methods, which make it possible to detect oncological processes in an early phase of development, even before the appearance of the tumor process, which makes a complete cure possible. One of the most accurate types of diagnostics rightfully includes a laboratory general blood test for markers of the oncological process. Let's take a closer look at what tumor markers are.

Cancer markers

To understand what tumor markers are, you will need to delve a little deeper into medical explanations about markers of tumor processes in the body. An oncological marker is a specific protein that appears in the blood due to the development of a tumor process. Oncological markers are produced by cancer cells or the immune system in response to the occurrence of cancer.

Malignant cells secrete antigens in huge quantities, so any excess of the norm of certain tumor markers in the bloodstream clearly indicates an increase in oncology.

Cancer markers can be detected by blood tests, urine tests and histological examination, that is, by taking samples of cancer-affected tissues.

Tumor markers for cancer must meet certain conditions:

• Appears only with malignant neoplasms.
• Produced in sufficient quantities to determine the size of the tumor and the stage of the oncological process.
• Detected in the presence of residual tumor fragments in the tissues.
• React by changing numbers to the course of therapy.
• Each marker should ideally be organ-specific, that is, diagnose a tumor of a specific organ.

The last point is often not true. Most tumor markers have a considerable list of pathologies of organs and systems, including benign formations. Based on this, the study of a separate oncological marker does not allow obtaining information about the location of the tumor and a complete picture of the disease. In order to achieve greater information value from the study of tumor markers, a comprehensive study of several specific blood protein elements is carried out. Now it is clear what kind of tumor marker this substance is and how, by doing a general blood test, it is easy to determine its qualitative and quantitative level.

The most important cancer markers and their classification

To date, about 200 different tumor markers have been openly and sufficiently studied in the field of medicine. There is a constant increase in indicators of the oncological process. But in diagnostic practice, only the main tumor markers are used, of which there are about 20. They are divided into two large groups according to the location of detection (humoral or tissue), according to chemical characteristics (glycoproteins and their carbohydrate factors, saccharides, glycolipids and polypeptides, polyamines, immunoglobulins) and for biological purposes.

Classification of tumor markers by microbiological purpose:

• Cancer embryonic (oncofetal) antigens (CEA):
  • human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG);
  • globular protein beta-1 of gestation;
  • AFP (alpha fetoprotein);
  • tumor marker CA 125;
  • tumor marker CA 15-3;
  • tumor marker CA 19-9;
  • tumor marker CA 72-4;
  • tumor marker CA 50.
• Hormonal substances:
  • adrenocorticotropin;
  • vasopressin;
  • calcitonin;
  • somatomammotropin placental;
  • parathyrin;
  • mammotropin.
• Enzymes:
  • tissue polypeptide-specific antigen;
  • neuro-specific enolase;
  • prostatic acid phosphatase;
  • L-lactate;
  • thymidine group kinases.
• Receptors:
  • progesterone;
  • estrogen;
  • microglobulin beta-2;
  • immunoglobulins;
  • iron protein

Researchers in the field of medical diagnostics have developed special comprehensive programs that include a set of complementary tumor markers to make a reliable diagnosis of a specific organ. There are common comprehensive blood tests for cancer markers suitable for men and women. Thanks to such blood tests, you will be able to examine your body immediately for the most important eye markers, which will save time, money and effort.

What does the presence of tumor markers in the blood indicate?

The values ​​of tumor markers included in the group of main indicators of the tumor process cannot serve as the main criterion for making a final diagnosis. Because most of the substances mentioned are not specific tumor markers. The most common tumor markers in the blood include alpha-fetoprotein, which acts as an indicator of cancer of the liver, brain, ovaries in women and testicles in men. The CA 125 tumor marker test also identifies oncological processes in the ovaries. Using the metabolic tumor marker tu m2 pk, the growth of malignant tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, kidneys, and mammary glands is detected.

The hCG test in men and non-pregnant women detects the growth of tumor formations in the testes and female genital organs. And in pregnant women, deviations from the norm in the direction of exceeding or decreasing the chorionic hormone indicate disturbances in pregnancy or deviations in the development of the fetus. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is produced by epithelial tissues of organs and indicates carcinoma in the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, liver, lungs or mammary glands. A test for total PSA (in free and protein-bound form) determines the presence and growth of a tumor process in the prostate gland.

Calcitonin is exceeded in the body with medullary thyroid cancer. Lactate dehydrogenase is abnormal in liver cancer and some types of cancer-related blood flow changes. A blood test for placental lactogen is prescribed for suspected cancer pathologies of the lungs, mammary glands and other organs. The level of prolactin is disturbed in adenomas of the kidneys, pituitary gland and sometimes the respiratory tract. Deviations from the norm in parathyroid hormone levels are evidence of cancer processes in the kidneys, liver, lungs, and mammary glands.

Estrogen and progesterone as tumor markers indicate thyroid cancer.

The test for microglobulin beta-2 notifies about diseases of the circulatory system of an oncological nature. In complicated cases, at high concentrations, it can accumulate in the soft tissues of various organs, disrupting protein metabolism, a process called amyloid dystrophy. Microglobulin beta-2, a nonspecific tumor marker, may also indicate renal failure. To detect it, a diagnostic blood test is prescribed, since microglobulin is detected in urine only in residual concentrations.

Coefficient of tumor markers in blood

In a healthy body, cancer markers are within normal limits. Any deviation from normal values, with rare exceptions, indicates tumor processes. When deciphering the results of a blood test for tumor markers, a medical professional will have to take into account a lot of information obtained during laboratory, instrumental, visual and other diagnostics.

Because, despite the high information content and reliability of blood flow studies, there is still the possibility of false positive or false negative results. In order to eliminate any inaccuracy in the diagnosis, the patient is prescribed a repeat blood test for tumor markers after a time determined by the doctor.

Norm of tumor marker indicators according to biological purpose:

Tumor markers	Acceptable rate
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA, CEA)	Up to 2.7 ng/ml
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)	From 0 to 5 mU/ml
Alpha fetoprotein (AFP)	Up to 16 ng/ml
Prostate specific antigen (PSA)	Up to 2.9 ng/ml in men and 3.8 ng/ml in women aged about 45 years
Microglobulin beta-2	From 1.3 to 2.6 mg/l
Ovarian cancer marker CA 125	FROM 0 to 29 units/ml
Tumor marker of the gallbladder and pancreas CA 19-9	Up to 33 units/ml
Pancreatic tumor marker CA 50	Up to 24 units/ml
Breast tumor marker CA 15-3	Up to 24 units/ml
Stomach tumor marker CA 72-4	Up to 6.8 units/ml
Specific beta-1 protein	From 0.6 to 4.4 g/l
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is responsible for resistance to stress	From 9 to 55 ng/l
Neuron-specific enolase (NSE, NSE)	Up to 15 ng/ml
Tissue proliferative antigen (TPA)	From 84 to 119 units/ml
Prostate acid phosphatase (PF, PAP)	From 0.2 to 0.62 units/l
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)	Up to 247 units/l
Thymidine kinase (TK)	From 1.8 to 7.3 units/l
Ferritin	From 24 to 195 µg/l

The body is perfect by its nature - all processes in it are debugged and function normally throughout life. But due to various circumstances, a malfunction in the functioning of any organ or system may occur in the human body. If the symptoms of deviations in health are mild, then it makes sense to include in the examination complex a blood test for cancer markers that correspond to the nature of the ailment. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the non-specificity of tumor markers both in diagnosis and in treatment. As well as gender, individual characteristics of the body and age range.

It would be wrong to associate the risk of cancer only with old age. Children's departments of oncology centers are sadly overcrowded. Based on this pattern, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the occurrence of oncology is strongly influenced by the radiation background of the area of ​​residence, the general environmental situation, bad habits, artificial preservatives and dyes in food, as well as genetically modified additives in it. Based on this, we can conclude that if you adhere to a healthy lifestyle, a proper diet and from time to time donate blood for the most common tumor markers, then only thanks to these simple actions you will be able to significantly reduce the risk of developing cancer.

In contact with

Tumor markers are protein structures with carbohydrate or lipid components, which, when present in tumor cells or blood serum, serve as an indicator of a malignant process in the body. The study of tumor markers allows us to obtain valuable diagnostic information that allows us to assume the presence of a malignant neoplasm and select the optimal sequence of examination of the patient. It should be remembered that a negative result when determining tumor markers cannot in all cases be considered a sign of the absence of oncopathology. A number of tumor markers can manifest themselves both in a specific cancer disease and in a number of others. Often, an increase in tumor marker concentration appears much earlier than the clinical symptoms of the disease itself. In practical medicine, tumor markers are used mainly to monitor the course of the disease and the effectiveness of its treatment.

How is the procedure done?

Blood is drawn from the ulnar vein. Testing for on-comarkers does not require special preparation.

CA 125

Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125) is a specific marker for ovarian tumors.

Indications for the purpose of analysis:

• prognosis of the course of the disease;
• assessment of the effectiveness of therapy for ovarian cancer.

Interpretation of results

Increased Ca-125 levels

• ovarian cancer;
• uterine cancer;
• endometrial cancer;
• fallopian tube cancer;
• pancreas cancer;
• rectal cancer;
• bronchial cancer.

Non-oncological processes:

CA 15-3

Carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) is a specific marker of breast tumors. The appearance of this marker in tests significantly precedes the appearance of symptoms of the disease.

• prognosis of the course of the disease;
• detection of early relapses;
• detection of metastases;
• treatment effectiveness;
• distinctive diagnosis of breast cancer and benign mastopathy.

Interpretation of results

CA 15-3 Level Up

Malignant neoplasms:

• mammary cancer;
• bronchogenic cancer;
• stomach cancer;
• liver cancer;
• pancreas cancer;
• ovarian cancer;
• cervical cancer;
• uterine cancer;
• endometrial cancer.

Non-oncological diseases:

• benign diseases of the mammary glands;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• pregnancy in the third trimester;

CA 19-9

Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is a marker of malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Not having high specificity, it is most sensitive to pancreatic cancer (in 82% of cases), tumors of the liver and biliary tract (in 76% of cases).

Indications for the purpose of analysis:

• monitoring the course of pancreatic cancer;
• timely detection of metastasis;
• assessing the effectiveness of pancreatic cancer treatment;
• observation of patients with probable recurrence of stomach cancer - in combination with CEA;
• CEA-negative colon tumors.

Interpretation of results

CA level increase 19-9

Malignant neoplasms:

• pancreas cancer;
• cancer of the gallbladder and bile ducts;
• primary liver cancer;
• stomach cancer;
• rectal cancer;
• sigmoid colon cancer;
• mammary cancer;
• ovarian cancer;
• uterine cancer.

Non-oncological pathology:

• cirrhosis of the liver;
• hepatitis;
• cholelithiasis.

CA 72-4

Carbohydrate antigen 72-4 (CA 72-4) is a marker for stomach, ovarian and lung tumors, but is most sensitive to stomach tumors.

Indications for the purpose of analysis:

• timely diagnosis of stomach and ovarian cancer;
• assessment of the effectiveness of surgical treatment;
• prognosis for stomach, ovarian, and colorectal cancer.

Interpretation of results

CA 72-4 Level Up

Malignant neoplasms:

• stomach cancer;
• colon cancer;
• ovarian cancer;
• breast cancer;
• lungs' cancer;
• endometrial cancer;
• pancreas cancer.

Non-oncological diseases:

• pancreatitis;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• ovarian cysts;
• autoimmune diseases;

Cyfra 21-1

Cytokeratin 19 fragment (Cyfra 21-1) is the most specific marker of bladder cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Particularly informative when simultaneously determined together with REA.

Indications for the purpose of analysis:

• timely detection of lung cancer;
• lung cancer prognosis;
• bladder cancer prognosis;
• monitoring the effectiveness of surgical treatment.

Interpretation of results

Cyfra boost 21-1

Malignant diseases:

• bladder cancer;
• lung cancer;
• cervical cancer;
• malignant tumors of the head and neck;

Non-oncological diseases:

• pneumofibrosis.

AFP (alpha fetoprotein)

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP, alfa-Fetoprotein) is a marker of primary liver cancer in oncology.

Indications for the purpose of analysis:

• timely detection of metastasis;
• assessment of the effectiveness of treatment;
• detection of metastasis in the liver;
• examination of risk groups of patients with liver cirrhosis, chronic HBs-positive hepatitis, α1-antitrypsin deficiency.

Interpretation of results

Increase in AFP indicators

Oncological pathology:

• primary liver cancer;
• teratoblastoma of the testes and ovaries;
• pancreas cancer;
• stomach cancer;
• colon cancer;
• lungs' cancer.

Somatic pathology:

• chronic hepatitis;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• alcoholic liver disease.

Decrease in AFP indicators

• tumor removal;
• adequate antitumor therapy.

A repeated increase or insufficient decrease in AFP may indicate relapse of the disease or the onset of metastasis.

CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen)

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA, CEA, antigen CD66E) is a nonspecific tumor marker. It is practically not detected in the serum of healthy adults, including pregnant women. But in the presence of a tumor process, the concentration of CEA in the blood increases significantly. Marker of tumors and their metastases.

Indications for the purpose of analysis:

• timely detection of tumors during examination of risk groups;
• monitoring the course of the disease;
• detection of early relapses and monitoring the effectiveness of surgical treatment of colorectal cancer, tumors of the breast, stomach, and lung.

Interpretation of results

Increasing REA indicators

CEA indicator 20 ng/ml and above:

• colon cancer;
• rectal cancer;
• stomach cancer;
• lung cancer;
• mammary cancer;
• malignant tumors of the pancreas;
• metastases to the liver, bone tissue;
• tumors of the prostate, ovaries.

CEA indicator within 10 ng/ml:

• cirrhosis of the liver;
• chronic hepatitis;
• colorectal polyps;
• chronic pancreatitis;
• cystic fibrosis;
• renal failure;
• autoimmune diseases;
• heavy smoking;
• malignant tumors of the rectum;
• distant metastases after tumor surgery.

Norms

Parameter	Norm
Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125)	in serum - 2.6-18 U/l
Carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3)	in serum - 9.2-38 U/l
Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9)	in serum - 0-37 U/ml
Cytokeratin 19 fragment (Cyfra 21-1)	in serum - up to 3.3 ng/l
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP, alfa-Fetoprotein)	adult men and non-pregnant women: 0.90-6.67 U/ml
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA, CEA, antigen CD66E)	from 0 to 6.3 ng/ml

Tumor markers are a group of chemicals produced by the body in increased quantities during cancer. They are released both by the tumor itself and by the tissues located nearby. Modern medicine knows about twenty significant tumor markers that help correctly determine the location of cancer.

PREPARATION

It is preferable to wait 4 hours after your last meal; there are no mandatory requirements. You can drink water without restrictions, preferably without gas. On the eve of taking a blood test for oncology, you must refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages and heavy physical activity.

What tests are there for oncology?

Markers help detect cancer before symptoms appear. They increase approximately 6-9 months before the onset of primary metastases. People at risk should get tested for cancer every year. Men need to take a PSA test, which is a predictor of prostate cancer. This is especially true for people over 40 years old. CA 125 has a high degree of sensitivity. It indicates testicular cancer in men and ovarian cancer in women. SCC indicates cancer of the cervix, as well as the respiratory, nasopharynx and ear.

Another female tumor marker is HE4, which indicates cancer in the ovary and endometrium. When screening for breast cancer, CA-15-3 is prescribed. This is a highly specific test for breast cancer. Inflated values ​​of the tumor marker CA 15.3 may indicate a tumor of the mammary glands and signal the need to undergo examination by a breast oncologist.

There are a number of other blood tests for oncology, the list and prices of which can be found in the table below.

WHAT DO TUMOR MARKERS SHOW

In the diagnosis of cancer, the following types of oncology tests are of greatest diagnostic importance: CA 19.9 (indicates stomach and pancreatic cancer), CA 15-3 (tumor marker for breast cancer), CA 125 (marker for ovarian cancer), PSA (cancer diagnosis prostate), b-2 microglobulin (marker of lymphoma and multiple myeloma), Cyfra 21-1 (marker of non-small cell lung cancer), AFP (liver cancer), etc.

LIST AND COST OF SERVICES

Tumor markers	Price	Price, urgent
PSA total	650	1 200
PSA total / PSA free	950	1 850
REA	800	1 550
SA 15-3	800	1 550
SA 19-9	800	1 550
CA 125	800	1 550
UBC Urinary Bladder Cancer	1 600
β-2-microglobulin	1 350	2 650
SA 72-4	1 200	2 350
Cyfra 21-1	1 200	2 350
SCC	1 350	2 600
HE 4	1 250
Cg A(chromogranin A)	1 850
ProGRP(progastrin releasing peptide)	1 900
NSE(neuron-specific enolase)	1 500	2 950
Protein S 100	2 450

Picture 1. WHICH TUMOR MARKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT

WARNING!
It should be remembered that a slight increase in the concentration of many tumor markers in a blood test is possible in various benign and inflammatory diseases and physiological conditions. So that patients do not rush to make a diagnosis, we consider it useful to remind: the concentration of tumor markers often increases during pathological processes localized in various organs, during pregnancy, as well as during a certain age period (menopause, menopause). Therefore, the detection of elevated levels of one or another tumor marker is not yet a basis for making a diagnosis of a malignant tumor, but serves as a reason for further examination.

Donation of tumor markers in Moscow

Has your doctor prescribed you to undergo a cancer screening or do you want to donate blood for a tumor marker at your own request? We offer you to use the services of the laboratory of our clinic on Kutuzovsky Prospekt, within walking distance from the metro stations of the same name and the MCC. Check out the opening hours and address.

• Treatment room - open from 10-00 to 20-30 weekdays, from 10-00 to 17-30 - weekends (Saturday and Sunday), as well as holidays. In order to save your time, it is strongly recommended to pre-register for this type of analysis. Blood is taken from women and men.

Tumor markers - promotion!

Do you want to get discounts on donating blood for tumor markers? The promotion in our clinic provides an opportunity to have these indicators taken at reasonable prices. Take advantage of our special offer - tests for oncology with discounts of 10% when passing any 2 indicators. Fast and inexpensive!