Question | Answer |
Tumor markers are by broad definition biochemical analytes that are useful in detecting | cancer, tumor growth prediction, or progression of the illness. |
These markers can help the physician monitor the recurrences or spread of the malignancy.They can also serve as | a marker of total removal of a tumor by surgical methods. |
Serial markers can help the oncologist assess | the effectiveness of the treatment that they are rendering. |
Hyperalbuminema leads to | dehydration |
Increased alpha 2 globulin due to | alpha 2 macroglobulin: nephrotic syndrome with peripheral edema, membranous glomerulonephritis, hyperlipidemia |
Decreased alpha 2 globulin due to | haptoglobin: hemolytic anemia with spherocytes in PB |
a minimum of 10 ml of urine for | electrophoresis. |
Most urine samples require | concentration to obtain this minimum amount and for optimal concentration |
Electrophoresis on urine is the preferred technique for identification of Bence Jones proteins in patients with | suspected multiple myeloma. |
Bence-Jones protein should always be done in conjunction with | serum, so the results can be compared directly. |
Laboratories can perform testing that detects specific DNA. This can be used to detect | viruses or genes in our DNA. |
The main testing done by the labs involves polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, and | Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) testing methodologies. |
Fish is used to detect | specific sequences of DNA |
PCR is used to | multiply the amount of DNA present and then identify it. |
50% of all men over the age of 70 have | prostate cancer |
Prostatic acid phosphatase was originally used as a prostate cancer marker, this test is | hard to run and perform accurately. |
Prostatic acid phosphatase has now been almost completely replaced by | prostatic specific antigen (PSA) this comes in total and free forms, can help tell the difference between cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) |
If the PSA value doubles within a 12 month period it indicates that | further testing is required typically a biopsy. |
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of | cancer death in the U.S. |
Pancreatic cancer is hard to detect early and since it is not usually detected until the latter stages, | chemo and radiation therapy rarely help. |
What two enzymes can be used to detect problems with the Pancreas ? | Amylase and Lipase |
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CA 19-5 and CA 19-9 have the most relevance to use with | pancreatic cancer. |
CA 125 Is a carbohydrate marker associated with | ovarian and endometrial carcinomas. |
CA 125 is also elevated in patients with | bladder cancer, pericarditis, cirrhosis, endometriosis, pregnancy or ovarian cysts. |
CA 15-3 is a carbohydrate marker that | if elevated can serve as a guideline for treatment efficacy of breast cancer. |
A lump biopsy may also be tested for the presence or absence of | a HER2/neu to see if the tumor would respond to Herceptin (transuzumab) therapy. |
The HER2/neu test is done using | FISH technology and is performed on tissue. |
The CA 15-3 marker can be performed on | serum or plasma. |
Fecal Occult blood testing can be used to screen for colorectal cancer but the utility of this testing is | in question. The testing has frequent problems and the effectiveness is debatable. |
The mental capacity of the target audience for colorectal cancer is a direct problem, and | the directions given to them by physicians is greatly varied. |