Carbohydrate antigen SA-72-4 in the blood
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The reference values (norm) of the concentration of SA-72-4 in the serum are 0-4.6 IU / ml.
SA-72-4 is a mucin-like glycoprotein with a molecular mass of 400,000. It is expressed in many fetal tissues and is practically not found in adult tissues. The level of CA-72-4 is increased in the blood serum of patients suffering from such malignant tumors of glandular genesis as carcinoma of the stomach, colon, ovaries, lungs. A particularly high concentration of CA-72-4 in the blood is determined in carcinoma of the stomach. At the 3 IU / ml separation point, CA-72-4 has a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 48% for gastric carcinoma when it is differentiated from benign gastrointestinal diseases. CA-72-4 is a useful marker for monitoring the course of the disease and the effectiveness of therapy for gastric carcinoma.
The definition of CA-72-4 is important in mucus-forming ovarian carcinoma. In patients with serous ovarian cancer, an elevated level of SA-72-4 is found in 42-54%, and in mucinous ovarian cancer - in 70-80% of cases. In connection with this, CA-72-4 should be used as a specific marker of mucinous ovarian cancer, and the combined definition of CA-125 and CA-72-4 as an additional method in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ovarian tumors (elevated CA-72- 4 with a probability of more than 90% indicates a malignant process).
Increases in the concentration of CA-72-4 occasionally occur in benign and inflammatory processes.
Determination of the content of CA 72-4 in the serum is used:
- for monitoring bronchogenic non-small cell lung cancer;
- to monitor treatment and control of gastric cancer;
- for the diagnosis of recurrences of stomach cancer;
- for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ovarian tumors;
- to monitor treatment and control of the course of ovarian mucinous cancer.
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