We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Tumor Marker Levels Serve As Indicators of Disease Progression

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 19 Sep 2017
Measuring serum levels of tumor markers may serve as an early indicator of the progression of established tumors in the face of ongoing treatment.

Tumors frequently secrete complex molecules into the blood that are traditionally associated with a single dominant cancer type, for example prostate specific antigen (PSA) linked to prostate cancer, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) to colorectal cancer, CA125 to ovarian cancer, CA19.9 to pancreatic cancer, and CA27.29 to breast cancer. More...
While levels of these markers are readily measured by immunoassays, these measurements have not proven useful for screening otherwise healthy people for evidence of underlying cancers.

Investigators at the University of Colorado School of Medicine (Denver, USA) examined the possibility of using tumor marker measurements as a means to manage therapy of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Towards this end, they conducted a single center retrospective analysis of available CEA, CA125, CA19.9 and CA27.29 levels at baseline and on treatment in stage IV lung adenocarcinoma. Tumors where classified according to individual oncogene drivers. NSCLC tumors from 142 patients were analyzed. The tumors were linked to the following oncogenes: ALK=60, EGFR=50, ROS1=4, and KRAS=28.

Results revealed that during disease progression, a 10% or greater rise in the concentration of blood tumor markers occurred in 53% of patients. However, if the progression was limited to the brain, the tumor markers increased in only 22% of cases. Among the patients, 82% had at least one marker; 95% if all four markers were measured (CA27.29 highest frequency of elevation, CA19.9 lowest). Increases in tumor marker concentration during therapy could occur well in advance of radiographic changes of progression (by up to 84 days).

"If you ask some oncologists, they might say that there is no point checking these markers in lung cancer, as it does not express them," said senior author Dr. D. Ross Camidge, professor of thoracic oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "Clearly, these markers are not a substitute for routine surveillance scans looking for progression, especially in the brain. However, this is where the art of medicine may have to be appreciated. If the markers are going up but a CT scan says everything is still fine, maybe these data should nudge you to do a more detailed scan - like a PET/CT scan. Or if the best body scans are all stable, perhaps a rise in tumor markers should nudge you to do a brain scan looking harder for a hidden site of progression."

The study was published in the August 24, 2017, online edition of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

Related Links:
University of Colorado School of Medicine


Gold Member
Serological Pipets
INTEGRA Serological Pipets
POC Helicobacter Pylori Test Kit
Hepy Urease Test
New
ESR Analyzer
TEST1 2.0
New
Gold Member
Hematology Analyzer
Medonic M32B
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: New research points to protecting blood during radiation therapy (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments

Scientists have long focused on protecting organs near tumors during radiotherapy, but blood — a vital, circulating tissue — has largely been excluded from dose calculations. Each blood cell passing through... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The test could streamline clinical decision-making by identifying ideal candidates for immunotherapy upfront (Xiao, Y. et al. Cancer Biology & Medicine July 2025, 20250038)

Blood Test Predicts Immunotherapy Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking targeted therapies, making immunotherapy a promising yet unpredictable option. Current biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression or tumor... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: New diagnostics could predict a woman’s risk of a common sexually transmitted infection (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Markers Could Predict Risk of Severe Chlamydia Infection

Chlamydia trachomatis is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other reproductive complications when it spreads to the upper genital tract.... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The sensor can help diagnose diabetes and prediabetes on-site in a few minutes using just a breath sample (Photo courtesy of Larry Cheng/Penn State)

Graphene-Based Sensor Uses Breath Sample to Identify Diabetes and Prediabetes in Minutes

About 37 million U.S. adults live with diabetes, and one in five is unaware of their condition. Diagnosing diabetes often requires blood draws or lab visits, which are costly and inconvenient.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.