Oncological diseases still remain a serious problem of our time. However, in our early diagnosis of a malignant tumor, there is hope for a complete cure for the patient. What does it consist of? Including the delivery of a blood test for the presence of tumor markers. Each of them can talk about the beginning of the development of a tumor. In the article we will touch on specific tumor markers of CA 242. We will analyze their characteristics, norm, deviation values, indications for analysis, preparation for it and other important information.
What is it?
Oncomarkers CA 242 are highly specific signs of malignant lesions affecting the gastrointestinal system. If we turn to the analysis of indicators for this antigen in combination with other tumor markers (AFP, CA-72-4, Ca-50, etc.), then it is even possible to determine the exact location of the tumor. And based on all the data, prescribe a suitable cancer treatment.
What does the letter combination CA in the abbreviation of the marker name mean ?. It is deciphered by the English term Cancer antigen, which literally translates as "cancer antigen."
Substances CA 242 are produced either by the tissue itself affected by the tumor, or by the human body as a reaction to the neoplasm. The tumor marker CA 242, like other similar elements, will be a glycoprotein in nature. It is synthesized by the profiling particles of the digestive tract.
Note that this tumor marker is not specific - it is produced by a large volume of gastrointestinal mucosa cells. But he has one indisputable advantage - this is sensitivity to malignant neoplasms. According to modern research, its specificity is 90%! In this vein, let us compare the oncomarker CA 242 with antigen 72-4, which is the main marker of gastric cancer. The specificity of the latter does not always reach even 80%.
What is tumor marker sensitivity?
For a better understanding of the topic, we will analyze the important characteristics of all tumor markers. The first of these will be the sensitivity of the research methodology.
For example, it is said about this or that tumor marker: it has a sensitivity of 98%. What does it mean? Some people in the experimental group whose tumor marker revealed the presence of the disease. How did this number come about? In the group there were, for example, 100 people who were actually diagnosed with stomach cancer. A blood test for the tumor marker was able to confirm the presence of the disease in 98 out of 100 patients.
As you can see, sensitivity indicators are very important. They indicate the probability with which the tumor marker is able to identify a real and progressive pathology. If he has high sensitivity, then the data on him is enough for the specialist to exclude one or another diagnosis in relation to his patient.
Sensitivity CA 242
Let us return to the tumor marker CA 242. Studies confirm its sensitivity in 40%. At first glance, it seems that the value is too small. Indeed, only 40 sick people out of 100, the study confirmed the pathology.
But here it is important to compare with other tumor markers. For example, the sensitivity of CA 19-9 (pancreatic cancer tumor marker) is only 29%. In addition, the following factor is important with respect to this element: it depends on the content of the Lewis antigen in the body. Indeed, on the basis of this substance, the synthesis (formation) of CA 19-9 takes place. Statistics show that 5-7% of people will be mutants by gene, which encodes the Lewis element. Therefore, a study on the tumor marker CA 19-9, in general, will not be able to detect their development of pancreatic cancer, even if it is present.
What is the specificity of the tumor marker?
The category of “specificity” has something to do with the sensitivity of the tumor marker. What does she mean?
Let us again turn to an example. A number of studies showed that the specificity of a certain tumor marker was 85%. What does it mean? A study was conducted in which a group of 100 people was involved who did not have any type of cancer. Say stomach cancer. Their blood was tested for a specific tumor marker. Overall results showed that stomach cancer was detected in 15 completely healthy people. That is, the study gave a false positive result in 15% of 100% of cases. In 85% of healthy people, the tumor marker response was negative - there is no stomach cancer.
Specificity CA 242
We turn to CA 242. Its specificity is quite high - 90%. The probability of obtaining a false-positive result is only in 10% of cases, which against the background of general statistics will be very insignificant figures.
Nature CA 242
Tumor cells are not foreign. These are particles of one's own body modified by pathology. If earlier it was believed that only epithelial tissue can degenerate into a cancerous tumor, today oncologists are sure that the neoplasm develops on almost any matter.
Why are modified cells dangerous? They throw into the intercellular space, into the blood, the products of their vital functions. Under normal conditions, the concentration of these isolated substances is too low to be somehow determined. But with gastrointestinal tumors, cancer cells throw out a huge amount of such metabolic products.
They include the tumor marker CA 242. It is synthesized on the surface of the epithelial layer of the intestinal and gastric mucosa, as well as the pancreatic ducts.
The tumor marker was discovered in the mid-90s of the last century. But so far, its chemical structure has not been completely deciphered. It is a fairly large molecule with an extensive carbohydrate site. This characteristic makes it similar to a number of other "gastrointestinal" tumor markers.
To determine the presence of CA 242 in the blood, its immunochemical study helps. The site of the tumor marker molecule is isolated by antibodies sensitive to it (it will be an antigen).
Indications for analysis
An analysis of the concentration of the gastrointestinal tumor marker CA 242 can be shown in the following cases:
- Nonspecific symptoms of neoplasm in the exocrine pancreas. This is, first of all, the patient’s complaints of pain in the left hypochondrium, itching, pain in the shoulder and back, and a yellowish tint of the skin.
- Suspicion of a tumor in the intestinal tract, the conversion of a benign tumor to a malignant one.
- Cancer in the medical history. The study is conducted to diagnose metastases.
- Monitoring the effectiveness of the course of treatment prescribed for a malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Preventive examination for detected benign neoplasms - gastric ulcer, polyposis, etc.
Need for examination
What does the oncomarker CA 242 show? The indicator helps to identify pancreatic and intestinal carcinomas at an early stage of their progression.
Is such a study important? Yes, because oncological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are sometimes very sudden and unpredictable. They pose a great danger to patients of respectable age who have a history of benign tumors in the organs of the gastrointestinal system.
What does the oncomarker CA 242 mean? This is an indicator that reveals a tumor before it can be recognized by clinical symptoms. It becomes noticeable to the patient only at the stage when the tissue of formation begins to press on the bile ducts, functional gastrointestinal cells, thereby causing pancreatitis in a person.
If the patient has an affinity for tumors developing in the digestive tract, he should periodically, as part of the prophylaxis, take an analysis to study CA 242.
The rate of tumor marker CA 242
First of all, we will present normal indicators. What is the permissible concentration of this antigen per 1 ml of biomaterial? The norm of the tumor marker CA 242 in women and men is the same. This is 0-20 IU.
Note that in the case of a patient having diseases of the digestive tract, benign formations, this indicator will also be somewhat overstated. Both within the boundaries of reference indicators, and slightly increasing them.
Decryption of analysis results
We note immediately that the decoding of tumor markers CA 242 is the prerogative of a qualified doctor. Only he can correctly interpret the results of the analysis, tell the patient all the comprehensive information about his state of health.
The interpretation of tumor markers CA 242 in our article is purely for informational purposes. According to deviations of indicators, the most common pathologies are presented.
So, possible diagnoses with various deviations from the norm (0-20 IU):
- Values near zero (0-3 IU). These indicators indicate the absence of any pathological neoplasms in the organs of the gastrointestinal system.
- Values up to 10 IU. The presence of inflammation in the digestive tract. It can be a peptic ulcer of the duodenum or stomach, gastritis, pancreatitis and so on.
- Values within 10-20 IU. What does the oncomarker CA 242 show in women and men in this case? There are many likely causes: inflammatory processes affecting the gastrointestinal tract, benign formations on the epithelium of the stomach, pancreas or intestines. In this way, the effective treatment of a tumor (benign or malignant) that affects the digestive system can be determined. Also, this deviation in some cases indicates the beginning of the development of carcinoma. To gain confidence in this diagnosis, a specialist needs to monitor the dynamics of changes in indicators for this tumor marker.
- Values within 20-30 IU. The level of antigen indicates the development of a malignant tumor in one of the organs of the digestive tract. Such an indicator may also indicate a benign neoplasm of large sizes.
- Values over 30 IU. The development of a malignant tumor within the gastrointestinal tract.
So we examined the decoding of the tumor marker CA 242, the norm for women and men. Note that the level of antigen in this case will always be related to the size and stage of tumor development. And this greatly facilitates the diagnosis. For example, if the tumor marker concentration is more than 30 IU, then this already excludes the fact of the development of a benign tumor.
Additional examination for dubious results
If the concentration of this glycoprotein in the patient’s blood is higher than 10 IU during the initial analysis, then the specialist must send him for a second examination after a month and a half (in some cases, after a few months). It is also important to undergo a hardware diagnostic examination of the peritoneal organs, pass a liver test, blood for biochemical analysis. This allows you to determine the inflammatory process that affected the digestive system.
Additional examination for suspected tumor
If a malignant tumor is suspected, then the next diagnostic measure is tomography, ultrasound - an ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs. These methods determine the location of the neoplasm, its size and a number of important characteristics that indicate the degree of malignancy - the contours of the tumor, the development of its vascular network, etc.
Already comparing the data on the analysis of the tumor marker CA 242 and the results of hardware diagnostics, the treating doctor can accurately judge the degree of aggressiveness of the identified pathological tumor.
Analysis Preparation
In order for the study to show the most accurate results, the patient is required to prepare for the blood sampling procedure. These are fairly simple steps:
- Refrain from tea or coffee with sugar the day before the procedure.
- Blood sampling is best planned in the early morning. It is administered only on an empty stomach! At least 8-12 hours should have passed since your last snack.
- You are not limited in the use of pure drinking water - non-carbonated, without flavors and coloring components.
- The day before the procedure, eliminate fatty and spicy products from your diet. Why is this needed? Such foods irritate the intestines and pancreas. And this may be a false result in the study of the tumor marker.
If the results of the analysis are doubtful, then it makes sense to repeat the examination after 5-7 months, already in compliance with all the above rules.
A blood test for the tumor marker CA 242 is a necessary preventive procedure, which helps to identify an oncological disease of the gastrointestinal tract at an early stage. It is also used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment, control of benign formations. Among these tumor markers, this one stands out for its high specificity and not the lowest sensitivity.