CA 19-9 a Tumor marker for pancreatic cancer

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07/13/23

 CA19-9 Tumor Marker
 Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9
 Cancer Antigen 19-9
 Cancer Antigen-GI

CA 19-9 is a carbohydrate surface antigen and is present on the surface of some cancer cells. The CA 19-9 test is not sensitive and specific enough to be used as a cancer screening test. and it is not used alone to diagnose cancer. There are also non-cancerous ones that increase the level of CA 19-9.
Because of Individuals that are Lewis blood group negative (5%-7% of the population) do not express CA 19-9 due to the lack of the enzyme fucosyltransferase needed for CA 19-9 production. In these individuals, serum CA 19-9 is not detectable in the event of cancer recurrence.
CA 19-9 increases in the following cancers:
 Pancreatic cancer: CA 19-9 increases from 70 to 95% in people with pancreatic cancer.
 Evaluate the treatment process in people with pancreatic cancer
 Evaluation of pancreatic cancer recurrence
 Confirmation of bile duct cancer in people with duct obstruction
 Gastrointestinal cancers, such as colorectal cancer
 Head and neck tumors
 Liver cancer
 lung, ovarian, kidney or prostate cancers in Small amounts
CA 19-9 increase in the following non-cancerous conditions:
 Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
 Cirrhosis of the liver
 Bile duct infection (Cholangitis)
 Inflammation of the pancreas (Pancreatitis)
 Bile duct obstruction, such as gallstones
 Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma
The normal value of this test depends on the diagnostic method, so each laboratory in the normal range part mentions these values based on the method and its unit of measurement in its laboratory. CA 19-9 levels are usualy measured in units per milliliter (U/mL) and typically range between 0-37 U/mL.
Because this tumor marker does not have the necessary sensitivity and specificity, it usually has little diagnostic use alone, but can be used in combination with other tests and diagnostic methods such as imaging, CT scan, and MRI. for example, in the combined measurement of CA 19-9 and CEA is useful for the follow-up of patients with gastric cancer and is 94% sensitive. Therefore, it is important for patients to leave the interpretation of their test to their doctor so that he can interpret it with other factors.