Timely determination of the disease is the main condition for a favorable cure of the disease. Tests for the presence of tumor markers with suspected presence of an oncological process in the liver are considered important for determining the disease at the initial stage of its development. According to the statistics of doctors, the number of cancer patients is only growing annually. It is important to determine what the tumor markers of the liver and pancreas help to show and how to decipher the results of the study.
What are tumor markers?
Oncomarkers are specific derivatives of a protein that provide the production of invasive cancer cells with active growth and development of tumor formation in the body. The tumor produces components that are very different from those produced by a healthy body, in this condition the production of cancer cells is significantly accelerated, and after a short period of time they are already distributed in a larger amount throughout the body.
As cancer education progresses, the number of tumor markers in the blood stream increases, which proves the presence of a cancer process in the body. Not always such a research method helps to determine the presence of a tumor in the human body due to the possible presence of strong metastases. But in modern medicine, only tumor markers help to conduct an accurate examination, identify the presence of a tumor, the degree of spread of pathological cells in the liver, larynx, intestines and stomach at the initial stage of the development of the disease.
Why analysis is needed
The analysis helps to determine whether there is a malignant formation in the patient’s body, its severity, the effectiveness of the treatment measures to prevent the development of relapse long before the onset of unpleasant symptoms in humans. This diagnostic method cannot be called accurate, and often a liver test is carried out through a combined effect, since the readings of one of the markers may slightly distort the results. In addition, a biochemical and clinical blood test is performed, and the main symptoms of the patient are taken into account.
When should be carried out?
Liver tumor markers are used to detect cancer, determine the initial diagnosis and establish metastases and conduct screening therapy to eliminate a malignant tumor.
When conducting therapeutic measures, it is important to regularly monitor tumor formation in order to prevent a possible relapse of the disease.
What are liver tumor markers called
A tumor formation can produce up to 200 different protein compounds in the human body. What liver tumor markers exist? The main markers used in diagnostic measures include:
- AFP (alpha-fetoprotein or albumin) in a normal amount in a completely healthy person is at around 15 ng / ml. In case of illness, this concentration significantly exceeds 10 ng / ml. With an increase in the amount of the hormone, the doctor considers the presence of hepatocarcinoma in the patient’s body, the primary stage of cancer, metastases, and embryonic tumors in the ovaries in men. In some cases, the amount of ACE increases significantly with a benign formation, the progression of cirrhosis, acute hepatitis, and chronic organ failure. With an increase in the number of AFPs in pregnant women, an embryo malformation can be detected.
- B2-MG (beta microglobulin) is detected in almost all cells of the body in the presence of a tumor. In urine, such a component is in a minimal amount. With excessive concentration in the blood, the doctor diagnoses liver disease. As this marker increases, an inflammatory process develops in the body.
- PSA (prostate antigen) is particularly sensitive among others. In the analysis, blood plasma or serum is used. In the normal state, about 4 ng / ml should be in the human body, if the indicator exceeds 10 ng / ml, then the development of cancer is determined in the body. An indicator of more than 20 ng / ml indicates the presence of benign tumors in the body.
- CEA (tumor marker of liver cancer). Its normal amount in the body is not more than 5 ng / ml. A malignant tumor develops in the lungs, liver, stomach and rectum. The CEA marker is produced by cells in the digestive system of the fetus. Problems with the number of cancers-embryonic antigen occur in the presence of tuberculosis, chronic kidney failure or hepatitis.
- CEA aims to detect rectal cancer in the liver, cervix, bladder, thyroid, lungs and kidneys.
- HCG helps to determine the presence of an inflammatory process in the intestine, as well as cirrhosis of the liver.
- CA 15-3 the level of the liver tumor marker is increased with hepatitis, ovarian cancer and cirrhosis in the body.
Purpose of the procedure
An increased amount of liver tumor marker does not always indicate the presence of cancer in the organ. Additionally conduct blood biochemistry. Liver markers are given to patients for the following purpose:
- to establish an accurate diagnosis of the disease;
- determining the presence of metastases not only in the liver, but also in other organs located nearby;
- for screening when removing a tumor formation, as well as monitoring the results of therapeutic measures;
- to determine whether relapse is possible in patients.
When should you be tested?
Analyzes are given monthly - once when making the first diagnosis, in the second year - 1-2 times a month, the third year - at least two times, in subsequent years also several times. Often an inaccurate result of the study gives one or several markers at once, although with an increase in their concentration, we can accurately speak of the active progression of tumor formation.
To take tests and get the result, you need to contact any laboratory in the clinic.
Compliance with the basic rules
Before the procedure, it is important to follow certain rules so that the results of the study are as correct as possible:
- The analysis is given on an empty stomach - breakfast is prohibited in the morning, you can drink only one glass of water.
- A few days before the examination, it is important to exclude fried, smoked and spicy foods from the diet, as well as to exclude alcohol.
- Try to isolate yourself from stress and nervous strain, as well as reduce the amount of physical activity.
On the day of the analysis, it is forbidden to smoke for 2-3 hours, as well as consume medications. If the patient needs to drink medicines, it is important to inform the doctor about this. It is also important to tell him about any allergic reactions present to the injected drugs. A week before the study, it is important to stop sexual intercourse.
Women should not be given oncomarkers for liver cancer during menstruation, since in this condition the results of the study can be far from real. In this case, the most optimal time for blood donation will be 7-10 days before the onset of menstruation.
The most accurate results are considered when the blood taken from the patient’s vein is not frozen, but is immediately examined in the laboratory. Freezing itself does not greatly affect the test results, but more reliable data will still be taken from the patient’s fresh blood.
Cancer Description
The liver is a filter of the human body, as well as the main assistant in the purification of blood from harmful components and toxins. Oncological diseases of the liver are now diagnosed in 7% of all cancer patients. It is important to remember that this condition is very difficult to treat.
If at the initial stage of the development of the lesion the hepatocytes change to a malignant form, then after they begin to actively clog the ducts and blood vessels of the liver. They provoke the active development of parenchyma and the proliferation of cancer cells along the biliary tract. Sometimes the patient develops angiosarcoma (with the spread of hepatocytes through the blood vessels of the organ).
Cases of development in children of hepatoblastoma, a malignant formation that changes in a short time to a state of cancer, are common. Also, the disease can begin to actively develop in the body with liver metastases from another organ nearby: the intestines, lungs or genitals. In this condition, the active development of secondary cancer begins, which is often determined when going to the attending physician.
Symptoms of Having a Disease
The secondary form of the disease actively progresses if the patient has the following unpleasant symptoms:
- acute pain syndrome;
- dizziness immediately after waking up in the morning;
- excessive fatigue, a feeling of malaise;
- dull pain in the hypochondrium;
- complete or partial lack of appetite;
- rapid causeless weight loss;
- yellowness of the skin, including the membranes of the eye;
- the allocation of urine of a dark color, in some cases, blood is additionally present in it;
- feces are almost completely white;
- chills in the extremities, fever for no apparent reason.
In addition to analyzes by tumor markers, patients are prescribed a general blood, feces and urine test, biochemistry to determine antibodies and the level of the main indicators of red blood cells. Also, CT, MRI and ultrasound, biopsy when taking a small piece of tissue from the liver to study and determine the form of malignancy can be additionally prescribed. Patients with liver cancer should be given a strict diet.
Oncological markers for liver metastases are today considered the most effective and efficient diagnostic method that helps determine the presence of liver cancer at the initial stage of its development, which will help doctors prescribe a comprehensive and timely treatment. This will help alleviate the condition of the patient and extend his life.
Normal alpha fetoprotein
The tumor marker of fetoprotein is in human plasma, and a rapid increase in its quantity may indicate the presence of a cancer in the human body. AFP levels increase significantly with the active development of cancer of the liver, uterus or prostate.
An analysis to determine the amount of alpha-fetoprotein in the body is prescribed to patients in the following cases:
- in the presence of oncology and the beginning of metastasis in nearby organs;
- the presence of tumor formations in the uterus and prostate;
- during a course of chemotherapy and after surgery, which will provide effective therapy;
- in order to determine the state of the organ with the development of cirrhosis;
- to diagnose the condition of a patient who is at increased risk for morbidity.
Oncomarker rates
Oncomarker rates for children (boys):
- from 1 day to 30 days - less than 16 400 ng / ml;
- from a month to a year - not higher than 28 ng / ml;
- 2-3 years - less than 7.9 ng / ml;
- from 4 years to 6 - less than 5.6 ng / ml;
- from 7 to 10 years - less than 3.7 ng / ml;
- 12-19 years old - not to exceed 3.9 ng / ml.
In girls, they look like this:
- from 1 day to a month - no more than 19,000 ng / ml;
- from a month to a year - not higher than 77 ng / ml;
- 2-3 years - less than 11 ng / ml;
- 4-6 years old - not higher than 4.2 ng / ml;
- 7-10 years - less than 5.6 ng / ml;
- from 12 to 19 years old - less than 4.2 ng / ml.
In older people, the ACE should not be higher than 7 ng / ml. Such indicators are considered normal for healthy people in whose body there are no formations. But if the level of AFP increases significantly, then this may indicate that cancer develops in the latent form in the human body. If this condition is diagnosed, the doctor sends the patient to a more detailed examination.