Beta-2-Microglobulin (B2M)
B2M blood levels are elevated in multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia
(CLL), and some lymphomas. Levels may also be higher in some non-cancerous
conditions, such as kidney disease.
Normal levels are usually below 2.5 mg/L (milligrams/liter). B2M is useful to help
predict the long-term outlook in some of these cancers. Patients with higher levels of
B2M usually have a poorer prognosis. B2M is also checked during treatment of
multiple myeloma to see how well the treatment is working.
Beta-HCG
See human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
Bladder Tumor Antigen (BTA)
BTA is found in the urine of many patients with bladder cancer. It may also be
associated with non-cancerous conditions such as kidney stones or urinary tract
infections. Test results are reported as either positive (BTA is present) or negative
(BTA is not present). It is sometimes used along with NMP22 to test patients for
bladder cancer recurrence. This test is not widely used and still being studied, and
not considered as reliable as cystoscopy for diagnosing bladder cancer. But, it may
be helpful in allowing fewer cystoscopies during bladder cancer follow-up. Most
experts consider cystoscopy the standard for diagnosis and follow-up of bladder
cancer.
CA 15-3
CA 15-3 is used most often to monitor people with breast cancer. Elevated blood
levels are found in less than 10% of patients with early disease and in about 70% of
patients with advanced disease. Levels usually drop after effective treatment.
However they may increase in the first few weeks after treatment is started due to
dying cancer cells in the bloodstream. The normal level is usually less than 30 U/mL
(units/milliliter) depending on the lab used for the test. But levels as high as 100
U/mL can sometimes be seen in women who do not have cancer. Levels of this
marker can also be higher in other cancers and in some non-cancerous conditions
such as benign breast conditions and hepatitis.
CA 27.29
CA 27.29 is another marker that can be used to monitor people with breast cancer
during or after treatment. This test measures the same marker as the CA 15-3 test,
but in a different way. Although CA 27.29 is a newer test than CA 15-3, it is not
better in detecting either early or advanced disease, but it may be less likely to be
, positive in cases of people without cancer. The normal level is usually less than 40
U/mL (units/milliliter) depending on the testing lab. This marker can also be
elevated in the presence of other cancers and in some non-cancerous conditions, but
it is not elevated in all patients with breast cancer.
CA 125
CA 125 is the standard tumor marker used to follow women during or after
treatment for epithelial ovarian cancer. Normal blood levels are usually less than 35
U/mL (units/milliliter). More than 90% of women have high levels of CA 125 when
ovarian cancer is advanced. CA 125 levels are monitored during treatment to
evaluate responsiveness. Levels are also elevated in about half of women whose
cancer has not spread outside the ovary. Studies suggest that CA 125 can miss
many early stage ovarian cancers. Other conditions can cause an elevated CA 125
level, including fibroids, endometriosis, lung, pancreatic, breast, and colon cancer,
and a cancer history. Since ovarian cancer is a rather rare disease, an increased CA
125 level is more likely to be caused by something other than ovarian cancer.
CA 72-4
CA 72-4 is a newer test being studied for use in ovarian and pancreatic cancer and
in cancers originating in the digestive tract, especially stomach cancer. There is no
evidence that it is better than the tumor markers currently in use, but it may be
valuable when used along with other tests. Studies of this marker are still in
progress.
CA 19-9
The CA 19-9 test was first developed to detect colorectal cancer, but it is more often
used in patients with pancreatic cancer. In very early disease stage the level is often
normal, and therefore it is not reliable as a screening test. However, CA 19-9 is the
best tumor marker for following patients with cancer of the pancreas. Normal blood
levels of CA 19-9 are below 37 U/mL (units/milliliter). A high CA 19-9 level in a
newly diagnosed patient usually means the disease is advanced. CA 19-9 can be
used to monitor colorectal cancer, but the CEA test is preferred for that cancer. CA
19-9 can also be elevated in other forms of digestive tract cancer, especially cancers
of the stomach and bile ducts, and in some non-cancerous conditions such as
thyroid disease and pancreatitis.
Calcitonin
Calcitonin is a hormone produced by cells called parafollicular C cells in the thyroid
gland that usually helps regulate blood calcium levels. Normal calcitonin levels are
from below 5 to 12 pg/ml (picograms/milliliter). In cases of medullary thyroid
B2M blood levels are elevated in multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia
(CLL), and some lymphomas. Levels may also be higher in some non-cancerous
conditions, such as kidney disease.
Normal levels are usually below 2.5 mg/L (milligrams/liter). B2M is useful to help
predict the long-term outlook in some of these cancers. Patients with higher levels of
B2M usually have a poorer prognosis. B2M is also checked during treatment of
multiple myeloma to see how well the treatment is working.
Beta-HCG
See human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
Bladder Tumor Antigen (BTA)
BTA is found in the urine of many patients with bladder cancer. It may also be
associated with non-cancerous conditions such as kidney stones or urinary tract
infections. Test results are reported as either positive (BTA is present) or negative
(BTA is not present). It is sometimes used along with NMP22 to test patients for
bladder cancer recurrence. This test is not widely used and still being studied, and
not considered as reliable as cystoscopy for diagnosing bladder cancer. But, it may
be helpful in allowing fewer cystoscopies during bladder cancer follow-up. Most
experts consider cystoscopy the standard for diagnosis and follow-up of bladder
cancer.
CA 15-3
CA 15-3 is used most often to monitor people with breast cancer. Elevated blood
levels are found in less than 10% of patients with early disease and in about 70% of
patients with advanced disease. Levels usually drop after effective treatment.
However they may increase in the first few weeks after treatment is started due to
dying cancer cells in the bloodstream. The normal level is usually less than 30 U/mL
(units/milliliter) depending on the lab used for the test. But levels as high as 100
U/mL can sometimes be seen in women who do not have cancer. Levels of this
marker can also be higher in other cancers and in some non-cancerous conditions
such as benign breast conditions and hepatitis.
CA 27.29
CA 27.29 is another marker that can be used to monitor people with breast cancer
during or after treatment. This test measures the same marker as the CA 15-3 test,
but in a different way. Although CA 27.29 is a newer test than CA 15-3, it is not
better in detecting either early or advanced disease, but it may be less likely to be
, positive in cases of people without cancer. The normal level is usually less than 40
U/mL (units/milliliter) depending on the testing lab. This marker can also be
elevated in the presence of other cancers and in some non-cancerous conditions, but
it is not elevated in all patients with breast cancer.
CA 125
CA 125 is the standard tumor marker used to follow women during or after
treatment for epithelial ovarian cancer. Normal blood levels are usually less than 35
U/mL (units/milliliter). More than 90% of women have high levels of CA 125 when
ovarian cancer is advanced. CA 125 levels are monitored during treatment to
evaluate responsiveness. Levels are also elevated in about half of women whose
cancer has not spread outside the ovary. Studies suggest that CA 125 can miss
many early stage ovarian cancers. Other conditions can cause an elevated CA 125
level, including fibroids, endometriosis, lung, pancreatic, breast, and colon cancer,
and a cancer history. Since ovarian cancer is a rather rare disease, an increased CA
125 level is more likely to be caused by something other than ovarian cancer.
CA 72-4
CA 72-4 is a newer test being studied for use in ovarian and pancreatic cancer and
in cancers originating in the digestive tract, especially stomach cancer. There is no
evidence that it is better than the tumor markers currently in use, but it may be
valuable when used along with other tests. Studies of this marker are still in
progress.
CA 19-9
The CA 19-9 test was first developed to detect colorectal cancer, but it is more often
used in patients with pancreatic cancer. In very early disease stage the level is often
normal, and therefore it is not reliable as a screening test. However, CA 19-9 is the
best tumor marker for following patients with cancer of the pancreas. Normal blood
levels of CA 19-9 are below 37 U/mL (units/milliliter). A high CA 19-9 level in a
newly diagnosed patient usually means the disease is advanced. CA 19-9 can be
used to monitor colorectal cancer, but the CEA test is preferred for that cancer. CA
19-9 can also be elevated in other forms of digestive tract cancer, especially cancers
of the stomach and bile ducts, and in some non-cancerous conditions such as
thyroid disease and pancreatitis.
Calcitonin
Calcitonin is a hormone produced by cells called parafollicular C cells in the thyroid
gland that usually helps regulate blood calcium levels. Normal calcitonin levels are
from below 5 to 12 pg/ml (picograms/milliliter). In cases of medullary thyroid
