- 8 tumor indicators that detect cancer
- 1. AFP
- 2. MCA
- 3. BTA
- 4. PSA
- 5. CA 125
- 6. Calcitonin
- 7. Thyroglobulin
- 8. AEC
- How to confirm the diagnosis of cancer
To identify cancer, the doctor may be asked to measure tumor markers, which are substances produced by the cells or by the tumor itself, such as AFP and PSA, which are elevated in the blood in the presence of certain types of cancer. Know the signs and symptoms that can indicate cancer.
The measurement of tumor markers is important not only to detect cancer, but also to assess tumor development and response to treatment.
Although tumor markers are indicative of cancer, some benign conditions can lead to their increase, such as appendicitis, prostatitis or prostate hyperplasia and, therefore, in most cases, other tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis, such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance, for example.
In addition, the values of the tumor indicators of the blood test vary according to the laboratory and the gender of the patient, it is important to take into account the reference value of the laboratory. Here's how to understand the blood test.
8 tumor indicators that detect cancer
Some of the tests most requested by the doctor to identify cancer are:
1. AFP
What it detects: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein whose dosage can be ordered to investigate tumors in the stomach, intestine, ovaries or metastases in the liver.
Reference value: Generally when there are malignant changes, the value is greater than 1000 ng / ml. However, this value may also be increased in situations such as cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis, for example, its value being close to 500 ng / ml.
2. MCA
What it detects: Carcinoma-associated mucoid antigen (MCA) is usually required to check for breast cancer. To know some signs of breast cancer read: 12 symptoms of breast cancer.
Reference value: In most cases it can indicate cancer when its value is greater than 11 U / ml in the blood test. However, this value may be increasing in less serious situations, such as benign tumors of the ovary, uterus or prostate.
Usually, the doctor also requests the dosage of the marker CA 27.29 or CA 15.3 to monitor breast cancer and check the response to treatment and chance of recurrence. Understand what it is for and how the CA exam is done 15.3.
3. BTA
What it detects: The bladder tumor antigen (BTA) is used to help detect bladder cancer and is usually dosed together with NMP22 and CEA.
Reference value: In the presence of bladder cancer, the test has a value greater than 1. The presence of BTA in the urine, however, can also be elevated in less serious problems such as inflammation of the kidneys or urethra, especially when using bladder catheter.
4. PSA
What it detects: Prostate antigen (PSA) is a protein normally produced for the prostate, but in the case of prostate cancer it can have its concentration increased. Learn more about PSA.
Reference value: When the PSA concentration in the blood is greater than 4.0 ng / ml it may indicate the development of cancer and, when it is greater than 50 ng / ml, it may indicate the presence of metastases. However, to confirm cancer it is necessary to perform other tests such as digital rectal examination and ultrasound of the prostate, since the concentration of this protein may also be increased in benign situations. Understand more about how to identify this type of cancer.
5. CA 125
What it detects: CA 125 is a marker widely used to check the chance and monitor the development of ovarian cancer. The measurement of this marker must be accompanied by other tests so that the correct diagnosis can be made. Learn more about the CA 125.
Reference value: It is usually a sign of ovarian cancer when the value is greater than 65 U / ml. However, the value can also be increased in the case of cirrhosis, cysts, endometriosis, hepatitis or pancreatitis.
6. Calcitonin
What it detects: Calcitonin is a hormone produced by the thyroid and that can be increased mainly in people with thyroid cancer, but also in people with breast or lung cancer, for example. See how the calcitonin test is done.
Reference value: It may be a sign of cancer when the value is greater than 20 pg / ml, but the values may also be altered due to problems such as pancreatitis, Paget's disease and even during pregnancy.
7. Thyroglobulin
What it detects: Thyroglobulin is usually elevated in thyroid cancer, however, for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer, other markers, such as calcitonin and TSH, for example, should also be measured, since thyroglobulin may be increased even in people who do not have the disease.
Reference value: Normal values for thyroglobulin are between 1.4 and 78 g / ml, above that it may be indicative of cancer. See what are the symptoms of thyroid cancer.
8. AEC
What it detects: The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) can be dosed for different types of cancer, being normally rising in cancer in the intestine, affecting the colon or rectum. Learn more about bowel cancer.
Reference value: To be indicative of cancer, the CEA concentration must be 5 times higher than the normal value, which is up to 5 ng / mL in smokers and up to 3 ng / mL in non-smokers. Understand what the CEA exam is and what it is for.
In addition to these blood tests, it is possible to evaluate other hormones and proteins, such as CA 19.9, CA 72.4, LDH, Cathepsin D, Telomerase and human chorionic Gonadotropin, for example, which have altered reference values when cancer is developing in some organ.
How to confirm the diagnosis of cancer
In the case of suspecting cancer, it is necessary to confirm the diagnosis, usually requested by the physician, complementary imaging tests, such as:
- Ultrasound: Also known as ultrasound, which is an exam that allows you to detect lesions in organs such as the liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, prostate, breast, thyroid, uterus and ovaries; Radiography: It is an exam performed by X-ray, which helps to identify changes in the lung, spine and bones; Magnetic resonance imaging: It is an image exam that detects changes in organs such as breast, blood vessels, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and adrenals. Computed Tomography: It is performed when there are changes in the X-ray and is usually requested to assess the lungs, liver, spleen, pancreas, joints and pharynx, for example.
In most cases, confirmation of the diagnosis is made by combining several tests, such as observation of the patient, blood test, MRI and biopsy, for example.
