Tumor Markers PDF

TUMOR MARKERS  WHAT ARE TUMOR MARKERS? Substances that are produced by cancer or by other cells of the body in response to cancer. Most tumor markers are made by normal cells as well as by cancer cells; however they are produced at much higher levels in cancerous conditions....

TUMOR MARKERS  WHAT ARE TUMOR MARKERS? Substances that are produced by cancer or by other cells of the body in response to cancer. Most tumor markers are made by normal cells as well as by cancer cells; however they are produced at much higher levels in cancerous conditions. These substances can be found in blood, urine, stool, tumor tissue, CSF. Most tumor markers are proteins or may be pattern of gene expression change.  IMPORTANCE OF SCREENING TUMOR MARKERS 1- Diagnosis: Measurments of tumor markers are usually combined with other tests, such as biopsies to diagnose cancer. 2- Prognosis: In some types of cancer, the level of a tumor marker reflects the stage of the disease. 3- Screening during cancer therapy may indicate that the cancer is responding to treatment or not. 4- Screening before treatment help doctors plan the appropriate therapy. 5- Screening after treatment to check for recurrence.  IMPORTANCE OF SCREENING TUMOR MARKERS 6- Some markers are used to determine whether treatment with a particular type of targeted therapy is appropiate  MULTIPLE TUMOR MARKER TEST 1) Colorectal: CEA, CA 19-9, CA 125 2) Breast cancer: CEA, CA 15-3 3) Ovarian: CEA, CA 19-9, CA 125, AFP, βhCG 4) Uterine: CEA, CA 19-9, CA 125 5) Prostate: PSA, ACP 6) Testicular: AFP, βhCG. 7) Pancreatic, gastric: CEA, CA 19-9 8) HCC: CEA, AFP.  TUMOR MARKERS IN NON- CANCEROUS CONDITIONS: Examples: I. PSA; is a glycoprotein synthesized by prostate cells, occur not only in patients with prostate cancer but also with patients with prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). II. CEA; found in different types of cancer as well as in heavy smokers, ulcerative colitis, cirrhosis. TUMOR BIOMARKERS SHOULD BE OF INCREASED SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY  PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA) PSA is produced by the prostate gland, most of PSA is released into semen but small amounts are released into the blood stream. PSA exists in 2 forms in the blood; free and complexed with proteins (cPSA), the most frequently used test is the total PSA. In prostate cancer; decreased amounts of free PSA and increased amounts of cPSA. The gold standard for identifying prostate cancer is prostate biopsy; however PSA test and digital rectal exam (DRE) are used together to help detremine the need for a prostate biopsy. THANK YOU