The CA 72-4 test measures the level of cancer antigen 72-4 in your blood. This protein is primarily associated with gastrointestinal cancers, particularly stomach cancer (gastric cancer), but can also be elevated in other cancers, including ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer.
Why it’s important:
- Monitor gastrointestinal cancers: CA 72-4 is commonly used to monitor patients with gastric cancer or ovarian cancer, helping to track disease progression, evaluate treatment effectiveness, or detect recurrence.
- Cancer diagnosis and monitoring: It’s used alongside other tests and imaging studies to assess the presence of gastrointestinal cancers or to monitor for potential recurrence after treatment.
- Evaluate treatment effectiveness: Tracking CA 72-4 levels can help doctors determine how well treatments (like chemotherapy or surgery) are working.
Conditions Associated with Elevated CA 72-4 Levels:
- Gastric Cancer (Stomach Cancer): Elevated CA 72-4 is most commonly linked to stomach cancer and is used to monitor the disease in diagnosed patients.
- Ovarian Cancer: Some ovarian cancer patients may also have elevated CA 72-4 levels.
- Colorectal Cancer: CA 72-4 may be elevated in some patients with colorectal cancer, though it is not as specific for this condition.
- Other Cancers: It can also be found in patients with pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, or oesophageal cancer.
- Benign Conditions: Non-cancerous conditions such as liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and benign ovarian cysts can also cause mildly elevated CA 72-4 levels.
Limitations of CA 72-4 Testing:
- Not specific to one type of cancer: CA 72-4 is not specific to a single type of cancer, and elevated levels can occur in non-cancerous conditions or in various types of cancer.
- False negative results: Some patients with gastrointestinal cancers, particularly in the early stages, may not show elevated CA 72-4 levels, so it cannot be used as a standalone test for diagnosis.
