1 Common Tumor Markers

LECTURE NOTES
For Medical Laboratory Students

Common Tumor Markers

Prepared by
Dr.Abdulrazzaq Othman Alagbare
MD. Clinical pathologist
Yemeni Jordanian University
Yemen- Sana'a
2016

Prepared by . DR. Abdulrazzaq Othman Alagbare

2 Common Tumor Markers

Common Tumor Markers Currently in Use 1

Tumor Markers Cancers What else? When/How Used Sample

AFP (Alpha-feto Liver, germ cell cancer Also elevated during pregnancy Help diagnose, monitor treatment, Blood
protein) of ovaries or testes and determine recurrence

B2M (Beta-2 Multiple myeloma Present in many other conditions, Determine prognosis Blood
microglobulin) including Crohn’s disease and
and lymphomas
hepatitis; often used to
determine cause of renal failure

BTA (Bladder tumor Bladder Gaining acceptance Help diagnose and determine Urine
antigen) recurrence

CA 15-3 (Cancer Breast and others Also elevated in benign breast Stage disease, monitor treatment, Blood
antigen 15-3) including lung, ovarian conditions; doctor can use CA 15- and determine recurrence
3 or CA 27.29 (two different
assays for same marker)

Prepared by . DR. Abdulrazzaq Othman Alagbare

3 Common Tumor Markers

Common Tumor Markers Currently in Use 2

Tumor Markers Cancers What else? When/How Used Sample

CA 19-9 (Cancer Pancreatic, sometimes Also elevated in pancreatitis and Stage disease, monitor treatment, Blood
antigen 19-9) colorectal and bile ducts inflammatory bowel disease and determine recurrence

CA 72-4 (Cancer Ovarian No evidence that it is better than Help diagnose Blood
antigen 72-4) CA-125 but may be useful when
combined with it

CA-125 (Cancer Ovarian Also elevated with endo- Help diagnose, monitor treatment, Blood
antigen 125) metriosis, some other diseases and determine recurrence
and benign conditions; not
recommended as a general
screen

Calcitonin Thyroid medullary Also elevated in pernicious Help diagnose, monitor treatment, Blood
carcinoma anemia and thyroiditis and determine recurrence

CEA (Carcino- Colorectal, lung, Elevated in other conditions such Monitor treatment and determine Blood
embryonic antigen) as hepatitis, COPD, colitis, recurrence
breast, thyroid,
pancreatitis, and in cigarette
pancreatic, liver, cervix,
smokers
and bladder

Prepared by . DR. Abdulrazzaq Othman Alagbare

4 Common Tumor Markers

Common Tumor Markers Currently in Use 3

Tumor Markers Cancers What else? When/How Used Sample

EGFR (Her-1) solid tumors, such as of Not available in every laboratory Guide treatment and determine Tissue
the lung (non-small cell), prognosis
head and neck, colon,
pancreas, or breast

Estrogen receptors Breast Increased in hormone- dependent Determine prognosis and guide Tissue
cancer treatment

hCG (Human chorionic Testicular and Elevated in pregnancy, testicular Help diagnose, monitor treatment, and Blood, urine
gonadotropin) trophoblastic failure determine recurrence

Her-2/neu Breast Oncogene that is present in multiple Determine prognosis and guide Tissue
copies in 20-30% of invasive breast treatment
cancer

Monoclonal Multiple myeloma and Overproduction of an Help diagnose, Blood, urine

immunoglobulins Waldenstrom’s immunoglobulin or antibody, usually
monitor treatment, and determine
macroglobulinemia detected by protein electrophoresis
recurrence

NSE (Neuron-specific Neuroblastoma, small cell May be better than CEA for Monitor treatment Blood
enolase) lung cancer following this particular kind of lung
cancer

Prepared by . DR. Abdulrazzaq Othman Alagbare

5 Common Tumor Markers

Common Tumor Markers Currently in Use 4

Tumor Markers Cancers What else? When/How Used Sample

NMP22 Bladder Not widely used Help diagnose and determine recurrence Urine

Progesterone Breast Increased in hormone-dependent Determine prognosis and guide Tissue

receptors cancer treatment

PSA (Prostate Prostate Elevated in benign prostatic Screen for and help diagnose, monitor Blood
specific antigen), total hypertrophy, prostatitis and with treatment, and determine recurrence
and free age

Prostate-specific Prostate Not widely used, levels increase Help diagnose Blood
membrane antigen normally with age
(PSMA)

Prostatic acid Metastatic prostate Not widely used anymore, elevated Help diagnose Blood
phosphatase (PAP) cancer, myeloma, lung in prostatitis and other conditions
cancer

S-100 Metastatic melanoma Not widely used Help diagnose Blood

TA-90 Metastatic melanoma Not widely used, being studied Help diagnose Blood

Thyroglobulin Thyroid Used after thyroid is removed to Determine recurrence Blood

evaluate treatment

Prepared by . DR. Abdulrazzaq Othman Alagbare