CA 72-4

DESCRIPTION:
CA 72-4 is a highly specific tumor marker and is rarely measurable in patients with benign diseases. It is mostly secreted in the serum of patients with stomach cancer. Elevated values of this tumor marker can be found in colon, pancreatic and ovarian cancer. A drop in the concentration of CA 72-4 after surgical intervention indicates that the malignant tissue has been removed, while its sudden increase in the serum is associated with the return of the disease or metastases. After removal of the tumor, the value of CA 72-4 starts to decrease and in about 23 days it reaches normal values.

DETERMINATION:
SAMPLE: serum, plasma

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Elevated serum and plasma CA 72-4 levels have been reported in a variety of malignancies including pancreatic, gastric, gallstone, colon, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers. The highest diagnostic sensitivities, according to current research, are found in cancers of the gastrointestinal tract and ovaries. Gastric cancer: There is a correlation between the stage of the disease and the degree of increase in CA 72-4. After surgery, CA 72-4 levels return to normal and remain within the normal range in cases where tumor tissue is no longer present. Ovarian cancer: Combined use of CA 72-4 and CA 125 increases diagnostic sensitivity

RESULT:
REFERENCE INTERVAL: 0.0 – 6.9 kU/L