Quick Review Cards for Medical Laboratory Science

Common Tumor Markers* Clinical Chemistry Review 119

TUMOR TYPE OF CANCER FOR WHICH

MARKER MARKER IS MOST OFTEN USED CLINICAL USE COMMENTS

a-Fetoprotein (AFP)

Cancer antigen 15-3
(CA 15-3) & cancer
antigen 27.29
(CA 27.29)

Cancer antigen
19-9 (CA 19-9)

Cancer antigen
125 (CA 125)

Carcinoembryonic
antigen (CEA)

Human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG)

Liver

Breast

Pancreatic

Ovarian

Colorectal

Ovarian & testicular. Also gesta-

tional trophoblastic diseases

Aid Dx, monitor therapy, detect

recurrence

Stage disease, monitor therapy,

detect recurrence

Stage disease, monitor therapy,

detect recurrence

Aid Dx, monitor therapy, detect

recurrence

Monitor therapy, detect

recurrence

Aid Dx, monitor therapy, detect

recurrence

Produced by fetal liver; re-expressed in

certain tumors. Also ↑in hepatitis,

pregnancy.

Two different assays for same marker.

Can be ↑with other cancers & non-

cancerous conditions.

Can be ↑with other cancers & non-

cancerous conditions.

Can be ↑with other cancers & gyneco-

logical conditions.

Fetal antigen re-expressed in tumors.

Can be ↑with other cancers, non-

cancerous conditions, & in smokers.

↑in pregnancy.

continued...