What are oncomarkers?
Why do they prescribe an analysis and how accurate are its results?
- PSA (prostate specific antigen). It is produced in the prostate and is a "harbinger" of prostate cancer;HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
- It is used to diagnose tumors of chorionepithelioma, vesicular drift in women and testicular tumors in men;CA-125 may indicate the development of ovarian cancer in women, but it may also be a signal of a benign tumor.
- REA (cancer-embryonic antigen).
- It is produced by the cells of the digestive tract of the embryo and fetus and, according to the results of the analysis, can cause such diagnoses as stomach cancer, liver cancer, colon and rectal cancer, lung cancer;AFP (alpha-fetoprtein).
- In adults, an increase in AFP is most often a consequence of chronic hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma or germinal cell tumors.MCA (mucin-like cancer-associated antigen).
- A glycoprotein contained in breast cells. Its level increases in the blood in breast cancer or tumor metastases in other organs and tissues.When and why do they prescribe an analysis for cancer markers?