If there is a suspicion of the formation of a pancreatic cancer, the specialist must prescribe a blood test that determines the pancreatic cancer marker. This study is one of the first to be used for early determination of the oncological process. Several types of substances are established that are produced by the tumor, and they are established by special laboratory research methods.
Indications for the study
There are several pathological conditions in which a study of pancreatic tumor markers is required for the timely diagnosis of the pathological process:
- chronic pancreatitis;
- cystic formations and other benign tumors of the gland, especially those that increase in size when a dynamic ultrasound is performed;
- the formation of a clinical picture that is characteristic of cancer of the gland;
- pseudotumor pancreatitis;
- monitoring the effectiveness of the operation (how completely the formation has been removed) and conservative therapy (chemotherapy, radiation) for pancreatic cancer;
- to establish a metastatic lesion of other organs, if there are no clinical symptoms of metastases;
- to predict the progression of cancer.
Research Preparation Rules
In order to prepare for the test for pancreatic cancer markers, you need to follow some simple recommendations:
- Do not drink or eat anything other than non-carbonated clean water for ten hours before the test: the proteins that enter the blood after eating can cause a false-positive examination result.
- Do not drink alcohol at least two days before analysis.
- No less than a day before the examination, you need to give up sweets, fried, salty, fatty foods and other products that enhance the secretion of pancreatic juice, as well as peristalsis of the intestine and other digestive organs.
For two weeks before analysis for pancreatic cancer markers, do not take any drugs in any form of release (ointments, suppositories, injections, tablets, etc.), including alternative medicine (infusions and herbal decoctions). If the patient drinks the medicines necessary for life, for example, anticonvulsants for epilepsy, blood thinners, antihypertensive drugs, then they cannot be canceled. However, it is imperative to inform the attending physician about their use before passing the test for pancreatic tumor markers.
You cannot engage in physical work and various sports at least one day before the analysis. Neuro-emotional stress should also be avoided.
It is forbidden to smoke before the study at least during the day, because smoking increases the secretion of the stomach, the synthesis of pancreatic juice and bile synthesis are reflexively enhanced, which may affect the results of the study.
Analysis Procedure
To be tested for cancer markers of pancreatic cancer, a person needs to donate venous blood. It is better to take the material on an empty stomach in the morning. Blood (five milliliters) from a patient is taken from a cubital vein. In order for the result to be more informative, it is necessary to properly prepare for such a study.
A specialist in laboratory diagnostics after blood donation conducts several studies (ELISA method) and writes out a conclusion. The result will be ready in a day or earlier, if necessary. The results are interpreted only by the attending oncologist, who is familiar with the patient’s medical history, its associated diseases, in which the number of tumor markers is increased.
If you identify their high content in almost all cases, you will need to conduct research again. Control tests must be performed in the same medical and diagnostic institution, where the primary, because the performance of different laboratories most often differ.
The type of markers and the frequency of the study is determined individually by the attending physician.
What is the norm for pancreatic cancer markers?
The norm and deviations in the results of the study
Repeated excess of normal values when determining the content of substances, that is, markers of a tumor of a malignant type, almost always indicates the presence of such a tumor in the body. The higher this indicator, the greater the likelihood of cancer. The presence of metastases and the size of the neoplasm is also judged by how much the content of tumor markers is exceeded relative to the norm.
Normal values of tumor markers, which are determined with suspected cancer of the pancreas:
CA19-9 - not more than 40 IU / ml;
M2-RK - not more than 15 units / ml;
CA50 - no more than 23 units / ml;
CA72-4 - not more than 6.9 IU / ml;
CA125 - 22-30 IU / ml;
CA242 - no more than 30 IU / ml;
AFP - no more than 10 IU / ml.
The rate of tumor markers is often exceeded in case of pancreatic neoplasm.
When the results deviate from normal values, further examination of the person is necessary: CT, ultrasound of the organs of the peritoneal cavity are prescribed, then a biopsy is performed when a tumor is diagnosed in the pancreas.
Pancreatic tumor markers
In pancreatic cancer, tumor markers are substances released by this tumor into the blood. This is the chemical structure of protein-carbohydrate compounds (glycoproteins). To diagnose a gland tumor, look at the major and additional markers in the study.
Which pancreatic cancer markers are the most informative, interesting to many.
Key Markers
The main cancer markers of the cancer pathology of the gland, which are diagnosed without fail if cancer is suspected, include the glycoproteins CA19-9 and CA50. It is optimal to simultaneously check the values of these two compounds, since the determination of one tumor marker is ineffective.
With an increase in both indicators at once, a disappointing diagnosis of almost 100% will be confirmed.
CA50
The detection of this sialoglycoprotein is the most informative study for a pancreatic tumor: if CA50 is elevated, there is a high probability of an oncological process in the pancreas, since it is an organ-specific antigen.
The disadvantage of this study is its high price, compared with the establishment of another major tumor marker - CA19-9 - the pancreas.
CA19-9
The synthesis of this glycoprotein is carried out by epithelial cells of the gall bladder, intestines, pancreas, bronchi and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore its increase indicates oncology of almost any digestive organ.
If a patient is diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, gallstone disease, systemic pathologies of the connective tissue, he will have slightly increased C19-9, but not much compared to the norm.
A blood test for the pancreatic cancer marker is one of the most informative in diagnosing cancer: CA19-9 is significantly increased in 80% of situations with such a disease. It is also necessary to determine it for the choice of therapeutic tactics: when the content of this compound exceeds 1000 IU / ml, surgery is not required due to the high probability of the presence of metastases. In this case, other methods of therapy are selected.
To monitor the effectiveness of treatment or to establish relapses, dynamic analyzes of just such an oncomarker are done.
In some patients, insensitivity to CA19-9 is noted, or in the body this substance is completely not synthesized even with malignant inflammation. The analysis in such cases will be false negative, and you can’t rely on it: you will need an examination for other tumor markers.
Additional markers
This variety of pancreatic cancer markers includes compounds that are detected in the patient’s blood for any malignant neoplasms.
CA72-4. This is a carcinoma-embryonic antigen that rises 80% in pancreatic cancer. It is also found during pregnancy, pancreatitis, benign formations. A high level of such a substance indicates the presence of metastases in the lymph nodes.
AFP, or alpha-fetoprotein, is normally synthesized in utero by the yolk sac in a developing embryo. In adults, its production is carried out by liver cells. An increase in the concentration of this substance indicates liver carcinoma or pancreatic cancer. AFP testing should be taken simultaneously with other antigens.
M2-RK
M2 tumor pyruvate kinase indicates a change in metabolism. This happens in connection with the appearance of a malignant tumor.
CA242
The production of this compound occurs by the mucous membranes of the intestines and excretory pancreatic ducts. The high content of CA242 indicates cancer of the large and small intestines, pancreatitis, pancreatic oncology, and gastric ulcer. This tumor marker is determined only in conjunction with the main ones.
CA125
Such a substance is produced by the epithelium of the respiratory organs, digestion in the fetus. CA125 in the adult body is secreted only by the tissues of the respiratory system. Its content increases with cancer of the pancreas, stomach, liver, during pregnancy, pancreatitis, degenerative and inflammatory pathologies of the liver.