CA 72-4

CA 72-4 is a tumour marker, a substance that some malignant tumours can release into the blood, most commonly stomach and ovarian cancer. It is used primarily to monitor already diagnosed disease and treatment response. It is not a test for detecting cancer in healthy people, because it may be elevated in benign conditions and normal in people with a tumour.

Who is this test for

• people with confirmed stomach cancer, before treatment as a baseline value, usually together with CEA and CA 19-9,
• people after stomach cancer treatment, to monitor the disease,
• women with ovarian cancer, as a supplement to the marker CA 125, at the discretion of a gynaecologist or oncologist,
• people undergoing doctor-led investigations when other findings suggest possible stomach or ovarian disease.

What CA 72-4 is and what it shows

CA 72-4 is a protein linked to sugars (a glycoprotein) that some cancer cells produce in increased amounts, particularly stomach cancer cells. In stomach cancer, CA 72-4 levels are usually higher the more extensive the disease is, and fall after successful surgery. A renewed increase during follow-up may warn of recurrence, prompting the doctor to request further tests.

CA 72-4 may also be elevated in ovarian, colorectal and pancreatic cancer. The marker alone does not establish a diagnosis or show where a tumour is located; it is one piece of information that a doctor interprets alongside examination, imaging and biopsy results.

CA 72-4 is not recommended for screening healthy people. If you have persistent upper abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite and weight, difficulty swallowing or black stools, contact a doctor. Stomach cancer is diagnosed by gastroscopy and biopsy, not a tumour marker. We describe what to look out for in the article Early signs of stomach cancer.

Preparation and sample

CA 72-4 is measured in venous blood and fasting is not required. Gout and the medicine colchicine can increase CA 72-4, which is important when interpreting the result. If the marker is monitored over a longer period, it is best measured at the same laboratory, because results from different methods cannot be compared directly.

How CA 72-4 results are interpreted

The reference interval depends on the method; the interval printed on your report applies. With a commonly used method, the upper limit is around 6,9 U/mL (kU/L). Results are interpreted alongside the disease, symptoms and other findings.

Elevated CA 72-4

A mildly elevated value is usually not a sign of cancer. CA 72-4 may also rise with:

• gout, particularly during an attack, and when taking colchicine;
• pancreatitis and liver cirrhosis;
• pneumonia;
• ovarian cysts.

For a mild elevation, the test is often repeated after several weeks. In people being treated for cancer, the trend across several measurements is more important than a single value.

Normal CA 72-4

A normal value does not exclude cancer. Many early stomach cancers do not increase CA 72-4, so a normal result is not a reason to ignore symptoms.

How to arrange testing

You can come for blood collection without an appointment or referral at one of our branches throughout Croatia (listed on the Contactpage). Prices for all tests and panels are listed in the service price list.

Frequently asked questions

For which cancer is CA 72-4 a tumour marker?

It is used most often for stomach cancer, followed by ovarian cancer together with CA 125. It may also be elevated in colorectal and pancreatic cancer, but other markers are used more often for these.

Does elevated CA 72-4 mean I have cancer?

No. An elevated result may have a benign cause, such as gout, colchicine use, pancreatitis or an ovarian cyst. The result is interpreted alongside symptoms and other tests.

Should CA 72-4 be tested preventively?

It is not recommended. In healthy people without symptoms, the result is more often confusing than helpful because it may be falsely elevated or falsely normal. We explain what tumour markers are for and when they are useful in the article Tumour markers.