Cancer indicator tests usually refer to tumor markers, including proteins, glycolytic enzymes, and hormones. Specific tests include: CEA, AFP, CA125, CA153, CA199, CA50, CA724, NSE, serum ferritin, HCG, β₂-microglobulin and so on.
1. Embryonic antigen: including CEA and AFP. CEA: if elevated, it is mainly seen in intestinal cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and pancreatic cancer.AFP: mainly used for detecting liver cancer, especially meaningful for early diagnosis of liver cancer. AFP will be abnormally elevated if the patient has the habit of long-term alcohol abuse, while ovarian and testicular cancers can also elevate the level of AFP.
2. Glycoprotein antigens: including CA125, CA199, CA153, CA724, CA50 and so on.
CA125: commonly used in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, digestive tract tumors, etc. CA153: mainly used in the diagnosis of breast cancer. CA199: mainly used in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal system tumors, elevated CA199 is commonly found in pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, etc. CA50: mainly found in pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer and other gastrointestinal tract tumors. CA724: can be present in gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer and other gastrointestinal tract tumors if elevated, colon cancer, rectal cancer, breast cancer and so on.
3. Enzymes: including NSE: the content of NSE in the body of tumor patients is 3-35 times higher than that of normal people.
4. Protein antigens: including serum ferritin and β₂-microglobulin. Serum ferritin: its elevated value suggests that the patient has benign liver lesions, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatitis, etc. β2-microglobulin: elevated β2-microglobulin can be seen in malignant tumors, such as acute leukemia, myeloma, and lymphoma.
5. Hormones: HCG: elevation is mostly seen in germ cell tumors, gynecological tumors, such as ovarian cancer.