Multiple tumor markers

Multiple tumor markers can be seen in malignant tumor cells. Of course, multiple tumor markers may also be formed when the tumor is stimulated by the host. It is generally present in the excrement, body fluids and tissues of cancer patients. Clinically, it can be detected through chemical, biological and immunological methods. So what are the conventional methods for detecting multiple tumor markers? This article will help you understand multiple tumor markers in detail.

Tumor markers, also known as tumor markers, refer to substances that characteristically exist in malignant tumor cells, or are abnormally produced by malignant tumor cells, or are produced by the host's response to tumor stimulation. They are a class of substances that can reflect the occurrence and development of tumors and monitor the tumor's response to treatment. Tumor markers exist in the tissues, body fluids and excretions of tumor patients and can be detected by immunological, biological and chemical methods.

Common tumor markers in physical examination

Common physical examination items can be divided into the following categories:

① Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA): normal value is less than or equal to 3.45 micrograms/liter. Elevated CEA levels were initially found in patients with colon cancer, and later it was discovered that 30% of patients with gastric cancer, urethral cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, bladder cancer, and cervical cancer had elevated blood CEA levels.

② Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP): AFP is the earliest tumor marker discovered and is a commonly used examination item for diagnosing primary liver cancer. About 87% of primary liver cancer patients have AFP levels as high as 20 micrograms/liter or above.

③ Prostate-specific antigen (PSA): The normal value is less than 4 micrograms/liter. The positive rate in prostate cancer is as high as 30% to 86%. Its elevated level is closely related to the tumor.

④ Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG): The concentration in normal human blood is less than 5 micrograms/liter. HCG may be elevated in patients with choriocarcinoma, testicular and ovarian embryonic malignant teratoma, and the amount of HCG in the blood and urine is related to the prognosis.

use

① Early detection of tumors; ② Tumor survey and screening; ③ Diagnosis, differential diagnosis and staging of tumors; ④ Monitoring the efficacy of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for tumor patients; ⑤ Indicators of tumor recurrence; ⑥ Prognosis of tumors; ⑦ Searching for the primary lesion of metastatic tumors of unknown origin.

Precautions

① There are so many tumor markers that the sensitivity or specificity of a single marker is often low and cannot meet clinical requirements. In theory and practice, it is advocated to measure multiple markers at the same time to improve sensitivity and specificity.

② Tumor markers are not the only basis for tumor diagnosis. Clinically, they need to be considered in combination with other means such as clinical symptoms and imaging examinations. The diagnosis of tumors must be based on histological or cytopathological evidence.

③ Due to individual differences among patients, their specific clinical conditions and other factors, the analysis of tumor markers must be combined with clinical conditions and compared from multiple angles in order to draw objective and true conclusions.

④ Certain tumor markers may also be abnormally elevated under certain physiological conditions or in certain benign diseases, so care must be taken to identify them.