Stomach Marker Profile Test

The Stomach Marker Profile measures the levels of CEA, CA 19.9, CA72.4 levels in the blood.

• To screen for stomach cancers: This may include patients with suspected clinical signs and symptoms of stomach cancer.
• For monitoring treatment and relapse in patients with gastrointestinal tumours.
• The test may be used as a prognostic marker for survival following gastric surgeries.
• In patients diagnosed with liver cancer: To know the stage of cancer as well as the metastasis status
• The test can help detect recurrence, metastasis and residual cancer: This may even include patients with a history of cancer of other organs like breast, lung, pancreas, gall bladder etc.

Some symptoms that may point towards stomach cancer and require further testing may include:

• Abdominal pain with bloating.
• Loss of appetite
• Abnormal weight loss with malaise.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Difficulty swallowing food.
• Indigestion
• Blood in stools
• Black/dark coloured stools.

Following patients may also be at risk of stomach cancers and may also require testing:

• Patients already undergoing treatment for cancer.
• Patients who have completed the treatment to know the disease status.
• Familial history of cancers or gastric disorders having a genetic component.
• Unresolving or recurrent gastric disorders with worsening signs and symptoms.

This test requires a blood sample. A tourniquet (elastic) band is placed tightly on the upper arm. The patient is then asked to make a fist. This helps in the build-up of blood filling the veins. The skin is disinfected before needle insertion and the blood sample is collected in vacutainer.

None.

CEA test

A gross increase of CEA in a patient with compatible symptoms are suggestive of the presence of cancer. The results of this test when done over an interval help monitor condition of the patient and his response to treatment.

CEA levels fall after successful treatment to normal levels in 1-4 months

Levels may increase in certain non-cancerous conditions like smoking, hepatic disease, trauma, ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, cirrhosis, COPD, Crohn's disease and hypothyroidism.

Patients should do a follow-up testing preferably through the same laboratory as different assays can give different result values on the same sample

CA 19.9 test

Elevated values occur in cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer and colon cancer; they may also occur in non-cancerous conditions like cirrhosis, cholestasis and pancreatitis.

In benign conditions the result values are usually below 1000 U/mL.

Patients should do a follow-up testing preferably through the same laboratory as different assays can give different result values on the same sample.

CA72.4 serum Test

High CA72.4 levels may be an indicator of certain types of adenocarcinomas or GI cancers.

• CEA test
• CA 19.9 test
• CA72.4

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein and its concentration in blood increases in certain tumours i.e., colorectal cancer, medullary thyroid carcinoma, breast, gastrointestinal tract, liver, lung, ovarian, pancreatic and prostatic cancers.

It is often used for monitoring colorectal & gastrointestinal cancer patients and their response to treatment. 

CA 19-9 is a modified blood group antigen. The levels of CA 19.9 are useful for diagnosis in patients with pancreatic carcinoma, bile duct carcinomas, gastric carcinomas, colon carcinomas, esophageal carcinomas and hepatocellular carcinoma.

CA72.4 is a gastrointestinal cancer antigen and its levels in blood are an indicator of GI or stomach cancers.