Represent a group of organic chemical substancesgenerated in the human body, the content of which increases with the growth and metastasis of malignant tumors, during progression benign neoplasmsas well as for some inflammatory diseases. Since the increase in the concentration of oncomarckers in the blood occurs with the growth of malignant and benign tumors, the determination of data concentrations of substances is carried out for the purpose of neoplasms, as well as control over the effectiveness of antitumor therapy (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc.). Thus, oncomarkers are substances to increase the concentration of which you can identify malignant tumors in the early stages.
Some people have shock when they understand that they are carriers of a modified gene. They can feel lonely, disturbing, angry or smoldering. Genetic specialists, as well as other health professionals, such as consultants and psychologists, have experience in assisting people in these situations and can be a good source of support.
Some people also consider helpful contact with patient associations or support groups. These groups can provide information about the disease and what it lives with, including your practical and emotional experience. Very often they can bind people and families who are in a similar situation.
Definition, brief description and properties
Oncomarkers are the name of a whole group of biomolecules that have different nature and origin, but combined with one common property - their blood concentration increases with the development of malignant or benign tumors in the human body. In this sense, oncomarcresses are a totality of indicators with specificity to tumors. That is, oncomarkers are laboratory indicators of tumor growth in various organs and tissues of the human body.
If it turns out that you have a change in the genes that you may have passed to your children, it can make you feel guilty or scare the future health of your children. It is important to remember that genes are randomly distributed and the change of changed gene is not an error.
If it is proved that they are not media, it gives a feeling of relief for most people. However, some hard to share " good news"With your loved ones. They feel guilty in the fact that they "saved" their relatives. Sometimes it is difficult to assume that we were lucky, and others - no.
What are the monacarkers show?
Various oncomarcresses reflect the focus of tumor growth in different organs and tissues of the human body. This means that the appearance of oncomarkers in certain concentrations exceeding normal indicates the presence of a tumor or its metastasis in the body. And since oncomarkers appear in the blood long before the development of explicit signs of malignant neoplasm, the definition of their concentration allows you to identify tumors in the early stages when the probability of their complete cure is maximum. Thus, we repeat that oncomarcresses show the presence of a tumor in various organs or tissues of the body.
What could be the significance of research results for your children?
From the results of a genetic study, you will understand not only your risk of cancer development, but also more about the risk of your children. If the results of the study show that you did not inherit a changed gene, discovered in your family, there is no high risk of developing the disease, and your children do not inherit your genetic risk. This is due to the fact that you cannot transmit a modified gene if you do not transfer it.
Breast cancer or breast cancer
If the results of your research show that you are a media changed gene, your children can inherit a changed gene and have elevated risk Development of cancer. In general, the study of predisposition should not be carried out in children under the age of 18. Exception is the presence of certain medical indications For a study of a predisposition to a child, for example, if screening is recommended for your family cancer for children under the age of 18. Discussion genetic disease And the possible predisposed study with children and adolescents can be very difficult.
Oncomarkers - what is it? What are blood tests on oncomarkers, which types of cancer are determined with their help - video
Who and when is it necessary to define oncomarkers?
Despite the fact that oncomarkers allow you to reveal the tumors in the early stages or during their asymptomatic flow, all people do not need as screening tests (that is, routinely, in the absence of suspicion for the presence of a neoplasm) to take tests on tumor markers. The definition of oncomarkers as screening tests is recommended to produce 1 - 2 times a year only to those people, from the blood close relatives of which (among parents, sisters, brothers, children, to ate, uncle, etc.) were malignant tumors of various localization.
Is there a way for my child to avoid inheritance of the disease?
They may have many questions, and it is important to answer them as much as possible, since their age and maturity are as fair as possible. The best way Avoid the development of your child's disease - make sure that they are. For some types of cancer, especially for children and adolescents, during pregnancy you can spend a study to check whether the child has inherited a changed gene. Brochures on biopsy amniocentes and chorion. If you think it can be a variant for you, discuss with your doctor if you can spend these tests for the disease that you are worried about.
In addition, once in 1 - 2 years, it is recommended to determine the level of oncomarcores to people who have benign tumors (for example, fibromes, adenoma, etc.) or tumor-like education (for example, ovarian cysts, and other organs) .
Most common markers
Keep in mind that for most of the cancer that occurs in adult life, methods of treatment and preventive measures Constantly developing and improving, therefore, prenatal studies are rarely appointed. Sometimes, as an alternative to fetal research during pregnancy, you can perform a procedure called deogenetic genetic diagnostic. This procedure includes auxiliary reproduction of the pair, after which the fertilized egg is investigated to check whether the modified gene is not tolerated.
The rest of the people as screening tests are recommended to hand over oncomarkers once every 2-3 years, as well as after suffering heavy, poisoning, finding in areas with unfavorable environmental conditions and other circumstances capable of provoking the growth of malignant tumors.
Only oocytes, without changing the gene, are implanted in the woman's uterus. This is a long process and is not suitable for all. In many cases, the process genetic analysis Rates a family, and it can be a good source of support. In some cases, however, tensions and complications in the family may occur. it a good idea Think about how research and analysis results may affect relations with your partner and other family members. Remember that the affected family member must first agree to the examination so that the gene can be identified.
Separately, there is a question about the need to pass oncomarkers to people who have already found or treated malignant tumors. In the primary discovery of the neoplasm, doctors recommend to pass oncomarkers before survey operation to solve the issue of the need and feasibility of radio or chemotherapy before the surgical removal of the tumor. People who pass a course of radio or chemotherapy after prompt tumor removal, it is also recommended to take oncomarkers to control the effectiveness of therapy. People who have successfully cured from malignant tumors, it is recommended to take oncomarcresses to track a possible relapse within 3 years after the closure of the therapy according to the following scheme:
Sometimes approach to this family member may be difficult. It happens that relatives lost touch. In addition, it may be difficult to talk about diseases that occurred in the past, as it can cause painful memories. Genetic specialists should be able to offer recommendations related to these situations.
Some people may want to learn about their genetic risks, from concern to members of their families. However, other family members may not want to tested because they prefer not to have information about their risk. You must be careful because the result of your analysis can give undesirable risk information for other family members. It is important to remember that family members can have another idea of \u200b\u200bthe study and that their choice should be observed. Genetic studies can sometimes disclose family secrets, including adoption and paternity refusal.
- 1 time in 1 month during the first year after the end of treatment;
- 1 time in 2 months during the second year after the end of treatment;
- 1 time every 3 months during the third and fifth year after the end of treatment.
Naturally, it is necessary to test analyzes to oncomarkers to those people who have suspicion for the presence of malignant neoplasms.
This is explained by the fact that the family history is analyzed, and it can be done clearly that you do not have common genes with other family members. This is the ability to know about before starting the analysis. Access to your genetic results is limited. Your doctor is not allowed to report anyone that you were given genetic test Or provided test results without your permission.
Insurance companies often require you to provide medical information about yourself and your family when contacting the insurance policy, especially for a certain amount. The type of information that insurance companies and employers have the right to demand significantly varies in different countries. You need to know whether it is necessary to include the results of genetic studies that you have already taken, or you can take them in the future. Ask your genetic specialist and refer to legal data.
Before surrendering analyzes to oncomarkers, it is recommended to refer to the oncologist's doctor in order for it to determine which markers it is needed by this particular person. The whole spectrum of oncomarcresses does not make sense, as it will turn around only with excessive nervousness and excessive cash costs. It makes sense to take aiming several oncomarcers who have specificity in relation to the body for which the risk of developing malignant tumors.
Life with a genetic disease may be financially difficult. It is possible that people who develop a disease may not work for a long time Or stop working at all. For their partners and other family members, it may also be difficult to manipulate between the work and responsibilities for the care of the family or partner. Some people knowing that they are at risk of developing genetic disease, manage to plan financial and others. practical aspects Your future.
If you decide to spend a survey, choose the right moment so that you are as calm. Divorce and stress in work and personal life increase the emotional load even more, and the moment when you marry or a child is born, is also not the most appropriate for analysis. It is good to plan in advance, and that day when you get an invoice so that it does not meet other obligations and events.
In general, the indications for determining the level of oncomarckers in the blood can be formulated as follows:
- For early detection or additional orientation in the localization of the tumor in combination with other methods of diagnostics;
- To control the effectiveness of tumor treatment;
- To control the course of the disease (previously identification of metastases, recurrences, tumor residues that are not removed during the operation);
- To predict the course of the disease.
How to pass oncomarkers?
To determine the level of oncomarkers, it is necessary to donate blood from the vein. The generally accepted rule is the need to donate blood in the morning clock (from 8.00 to 12.00) on an empty stomach to determine the levels of different indicators, however, in relation to oncomarkers it is optional. That is, it is possible to donate blood to oncomarkers at any time of the day, but it is desirable that after the last meal of food 2 - 3 hours. Women are advised to refrain from passing blood to oncomarcresses during menstruation, since the data obtained in this physiological period may be inaccurate. Optimally donate blood to oncomarkers for 5 - 10 days before the expected date of the beginning of the next menstruation.
Oncomarkers - what is it? What are blood tests on oncomarkers, which types of cancer are determined with their help - video
Planning the study time, for example, "I am not going to study until the 30s" may be useful for your emotional comfort. Thus, you replace the decision in the future, and you can be free from your concerns about the decision-making process.
Who and when is it necessary to define oncomarkers?
You get the results of the survey, no refund. Therefore, it is extremely important that you are fully confident in your decision, and also discussed it in detail with a specialist in genetics. Remember that a letter to the appointment of a specialist does not oblige you to go through study.
In addition, to get the most exact results Oncomarkers are recommended in advance to find out in the laboratory, which day will be performed by diagnostic tests, and pass the blood that is on this day in the morning so that it is not frozen. The fact is that in many laboratories, analyzes are not immediately carried out, and once a week, per month, etc., as blood samples are accumulated. And until the required number of blood samples are accumulated, it is frozen and stored in refrigerators. In principle, the freezing of blood plasma usually does not distort the results, and this is a completely permissible practice, but it is better to conduct analyzes in fresh blood. For this, it is necessary to know when the laboratory staff will put samples to work, and donate blood on this day.
National Genetic Laboratory University Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology. Pleven. This information brochure was created by a group of genetic interests. Friendly translation of Tanya Cadiana, dB. Not all leaflets are available in all languages. Are you afraid that even in your family you are prone to some kind of disease and what is your risk too? Then you can check it out. If the geneticist confirms the risk, the medical insurance office will pay the exam. The most accurate are predictions about some aspirations.
As soon as you begin to view the Internet, where you can get the so-called genetic predictive tests that may answer the question of which disease will occur in the future, you will quickly find that the proposal is widespread in this regard.
Also, to obtain the right and diagnostically valuable results, analyzes for oncomarcresses must be taken at certain intervals. Currently World Organization Health Recommended the following blood delivery schemes for oncomarkers to monitor the condition of a person:
- Anyone aged 30 - 40 years Pass the blood to oncomarkers on the background of complete health to determine their initial level. Next, in the future, donate blood to oncomarcresses in accordance with the period recommended for a particular person (for example, 1 time in 6 - 12 months, 1 time in 1 - 3 years, etc.) and compare results with primary, obtained aged 30 - 40 years. If primary data on the level of oncomarcresses (blood, beyond 30-40 years old, on the background of complete health) is absent, then 2 - 3 analyzes should be carried out at 1 month and calculate the average value, as well as track, whether their concentration is increasing. If the concentration of oncomarkers begins to grow, that is, it becomes higher primary values, then this means that neoplasm may develop in some organ. Such a situation is a signal for a detailed examination by other methods in order to identify exactly where the focus of tumor growth appeared.
- When detecting an increased level of oncomarkers Research should be re-produced after 3 to 4 weeks. If, according to the results of the re-study, the increased concentration of oncomarkers is maintained, this indicates the presence of a focus of tumor growth in the body, as a result of which it is necessary to undergo a detailed examination in order to clarify the exact localization of the neoplasm.
- After the course of radio, chemotherapy or removal operations Tumors should pass blood to the monarchors 2 - 10 days after the completion of treatment. The level of monacarkers defined immediately after treatment is the basic. It is with this level of oncomarkers that will be compared in further control over the effectiveness of treatment and possible recurrences of the neoplasm. That is, if the level of oncomarkers will exceed defined immediately after treatment, this means that the therapy is ineffective or has occurred tumor recurrence and re-treatment is necessary.
- For the first assessment of the effectiveness of treatment It is necessary to measure the level of oncomarckers in the blood after 1 month after the treatment is completed and compared the indicators with the basic specified in 2 - 10 days after the operation.
- Next to measure oncomarkers every 2 to 3 months for 1 to 2 years, and after 6 months for 3 - 5 years after the treatment of the tumor.
- Additionally, oncomarker levels should always be measured before any change in the therapy scheme. Certain levels of markers will be basic, and it is precisely with them that will need to compare all subsequent results to assess the effectiveness of the treatment. If the concentration of oncomarkers will decrease - the treatment is effective, if it will increase or remain the same - therapy is ineffective and it is necessary to change the method and treatment regimen.
- In case of suspicion of recurrence or metastase It is also necessary to determine the levels of monackers in the blood and compare them with concentrations that were 2 - 10 days after treatment. If the concentrations of oncomarkers rose, this indicates a relapse or metastases that were not destroyed.
How can you trust oncomarkers?
The question of how to trust oncomarkers can be very significant for a person, who is either only going, or has already passed such an analysis and, of course, wants to be confident in accuracy and unambiguous results. Unfortunately, oncomarkers, like other indicators, do not have 100% accuracy and unequivocal results, but at the same time their concentration is diagnostically significant. This means that oncomarcresses can be trusted, but with some reservations and knowledge of the features of the interpretation of the results of the tests.
"But people must first contact the genetic consulting center, where they will make a thorough family history Based on knowledge, whether these tests have the meaning, "explains Peter Getz, head of the Institute of Biology and Medicine Genetics at the Faculty of Medical Faculty of Karlov University.
If the disease can be tested does not appear in your family, it will not be recommended for research. Although tests in some private laboratories promise to risk you more than a dozen diseases, in fact, according to Getz, experts can accurately predict only some of them.
Increased level of monarchors identified once, does not mean that a person has a malignant tumor in any organ. In such a situation, it is necessary, first of all, not to panic, but to clarify whether the level of oncomarkers is indeed increased, or takes place false positive result Analysis. To do this, re-pass oncomarkers in 3 - 4 weeks after the first analysis. If the second time the level of markers is normal, then there is no reason for concern, and the result of the first analysis is false positive. If the first time the level of oncomarkers is increased, it means that the result is reliable, and a person has a really high concentration of oncomarcresters in the blood. In this case, it is necessary to make an appointment to the oncologist's doctor and pass an additional examination with other methods (MRI, NMR, X-ray, scanning, endoscopic research, ultrasound, etc.) to find out what kind of body or tissue has been formed a tumor .
This, in particular, four types of aspirations, which are clearly connected with some genes and their mutations. In addition to breast cancer, it affects egg shelland then on thick cancer of the stomach and breast cancer, while breast cancer is associated with more high risk Development of ovarian cancer, and communication can be observed between families cancer disease and cancer.
With these cases of cancer, the laboratory can quite accurately determine the percentage of the fact that a person will get sick if its genes. Other community members may be different, but they are extremely revered. For example, Alzheimer's disease can only be tested for risk in some types of diseases, and cardiovascular diseases cannot be defined, for example, because many other factors, including lifestyle, enter the game, add Peter Getz.
However, even if the two-time measurement showed elevated level Oncomarcers in the blood, this is not an unequivocal evidence that the person has cancer. In fact, the level of oncomarcresters can also increase with other, non-cancer diseases, such as chronic inflammatory processes in any organs and tissues, periods of hormonal rearrangements of the body, strong stress, etc. Therefore, the elevated level of incomarcresters in the blood means only what perhaps a person has an asymptomatic growing malignant tumor. And in order to accurately find out if there is a tumor in fact, you need to pass an additional examination.
Thus, oncomarkers, it is quite possible to trust in the fact that they are always enhanced in the presence of a tumor, which will help to identify the neoplasm in the early stages, when there are no clinical symptoms. That is, oncomarkers can be trusted because they will always help not miss the beginning of the growth of the tumor.
But certain inconvenience and inaccuracy of oncomarkers (against which many people are wondering whether they can be trusted) is that their level can increase with other diseasesAs a result, with a high concentration of oncomarcresters, it is always necessary to spend efforts on additional examination to verify the presumptive oncological diagnosis. Moreover, this additional examination does not confirm the presence of a tumor of 20-40%, when an increase in the level of oncomarkers was caused by other diseases.
Nevertheless, despite some "excessive reactivity" oncomarkers, due to which their level increases not only in tumors, the definition of their concentration can be considered reliable. After all, such "excessive reactivity" allows not to miss the beginning of the growth of the tumor, when there are no clinical symptoms, and this is much more importantlyAfter identifying an increased level of oncomarcresters, it is necessary to resort to additional surveys that do not confirm the estimated oncological diagnosis of 20-40% of cases.
Oncomarkers, an opinion-oncologist's opinion: whether they help to identify a tumor, which forms of cancer can be determined to whom it is recommended to pass the analysis - video
How many oncomarkers exist?
Currently, more than 200 different substances are known, which according to the characteristics include oncomarkers. However, for practical medicine from 200 oncomarcresters only 20 - 30 are suitable. Such a situation is due to the fact that only 20-30 oncomarcers have sufficiently high specificity, that is, their level increases mainly with malignant or benign tumors of various localization. And therefore, due to the high specificity, the level of these markers can be considered as a sign of the presence of a focus of tumor growth in the human body.
The remaining oncomarkers are either not specific, or have very low level Specifies. This means that the level of data of oncomarkers increases not only in the presence of malignant or benign tumors in organs and tissues of human body, but also with a wide range of others, non-cancer, such as inflammatory, dystrophic, degenerative processes, etc. That is, an increase in the level of such markers can accompany the focus of tumor growth, and hepatitis, and, and a number of other, fairly widespread diseases. Accordingly, it is impossible to consider with a high degree of probability that the elevated level of such oncomarkers indicates the presence of a focus of tumor growth in the human body. And, naturally, since the increase in their level occurs with a wide range of diseases, these oncomarcresses are not suitable for practical medicine, because their concentration cannot be considered as a relatively accurate diagnostic criterion of the tumor process.
For the needs of practical medicine, currently in specialized clinical diagnostic laboratories are determined by the following oncomarkers:
- alpha Fetoprotein (AFP);
- chorionic gonadotropin (Hgch);
- beta-2-microglobulin;
- antigen of flat-bell carcinoma (SCC);
- neurospecific enolasis (NSE);
- oncomarker CYFRA CA 21-1 (a fragment of cytokeratina 19);
- oncomarker HE4;
- s-100 protein;
- oncomarker sa 72-4;
- oncomarker sa 242;
- oncomarker sa 15-3;
- oncomarker sa 50;
- oncomarker sa 19-9;
- oncomarker sa 125;
- prostate-specific antigen overall and free (PSA);
- prostatic acid phosphatase (RAR);
- cancer-embryonic antigen (REA, SEA);
- tissue polypeptide antigen;
- tumor-M2-pyruvatkinase;
- chromogran A.
Oncomarcresters: a planned blood test from employees of the enterprise - video
Most people at the subconscious level experience practically panic fear of cancer. This terrible disease has become a real scourge of modernity, and according to statistics every year the number of cancer all over the world only increases, and the drugs from cancer have not been found.
Such statistics also does not add confidence and tranquility, only enhancing panic and fear of the disease.
What is the analysis of cancer cells
Meanwhile, to live quietly and stop experiencing bouts of fear of oncology, it is enough just to test the blood test to oncomarkers, that is, to pass blood on detection cancer cells.
Despite the fact that the drug against cancer is not invented, early diagnosis And the detection of cancer at the first stages, to stop the spread of the disease, and the forecast for cancer in the overwhelming majority of cases is positive.
In order for the treatment to be started on early stage Patients are directed to blood tests on cancer cells. In this case, in monackers, and these are specific proteins or antigens, which are isolated by cancer cells. Identifying these proteins makes it possible to doctors to diagnose correctly, detect cancer in the first stage, when it is still operational or amenable to treating chemotherapy or radiation and not allowed metastases.
Today it is clinically proven that antigens that are detected during the analysis remain specific proteins under each specific organ. In addition, in a healthy cell, their development is simply suppressed. Thus, the appearance of a specific protein immediately suggests that the body begins pathological process development of malignant tumor.
A person is healthy, which is confirmed by blood test, these specific proteins are either completely absent or present, but in negligible small quantities.
Consideration of analysis for oncomarkers
Clinical indicators and values \u200b\u200bin the process of identifying, consideration and in assessing the results of treatment oncological diseaseis always considered at the level of circulating antigens and specific proteins in the patient's blood. Accordingly, these antigens are detected as a result of analyzing human blood.
An interesting fact remains information that the normal level of these specific proteins remains individual for each person. Since it is unrealistic to determine one universal norm, the main criterion for the normal state of proteins is the dynamics of changes in their concentration in the patient's body.
For this, measurements are made for a certain time, during which blood tests are conducted on cancer cells. If the selected period of time does not change the concentration of the protein and does not increase, it means that the analysis is negative and just nothing to worry about. By the way, thanks to such analyzes, a gene was installed, which.
Another important moment In the analysis to oncomarkers, may explain the availability sharp jump Concentration of specific protein in the body is not cancer, but simply inflammation internal organ. As practice shows, it is inflammatory process Most often responsible for a sharp increase in the concentration of antigens.
Such data prove once again that for accurate diagnosis and right choice Treatment schemes, analysis of cancer cells must be rechecked several times with new biological materials For analyzes.
Only one laboratory analysis It can not always give an accurate picture of the problem, and does not make it possible to put an accurate diagnosis. Important and what normal indicator Cancer cells do not yet exclude by 100% presence in the body of a malignant tumor. A moderate amount of specific protein in oncomarcresses may indicate the presence of a tumor in the body, but a benign character.
Thus, only the correct diagnosis with re-passing analysis and confirmation allows you to put an accurate diagnosis.
Basic oncomarkers
PSA a specific antigen, an enzyme that can be allocated in the body as a healthy iron and prostate suspended by the adenoma or cancer tumor. In this case, this indicator is considered exclusively in comprehensive diagnostics, since it is not informative in an independent form. In addition, the PSA level grows in the human body along with age.
Rea Cancer-embryonic antigen. When the colon cancer, this oncomarker can be diagnosed in high concentration, in addition, the observation of its condition allows you to track the process of changing the tumor.
This specific protein is found and with lung tumors, liver, pancreas, chest, bladder, prostate and cervix.
In the absence of a cancer in the body, a slight increase in this protein can be observed among avid smokers and in people suffering from cirrhosis of the liver.
Afp Alpha fetoprotein. Increasing the concentration of this protein can be diagnosed at the first stage of the liver cancer. In addition, the concentration of this antigen is growing at malignant neoplasms In the gastrointestinal tract. What is interesting is, an increased protein concentration is observed and benign tumor Liver. Therefore, on their own analysis only on this oncomarker may also be not quite informative.
Beta-hpch. Human chorionic gonadotropin refers to oncomarkers, which indicate the development of certain types of cancer of the embryonic type of neuroblastoma, nephoblastoma. For the reader, information will be useful, and in addition to searching for oncology.
CA 125. Cancer Antigen 125. Increasing the concentration of this protein in the blood is observed in 80% of patients with ovarian cancer. Moreover, high level The concentrations of this ocharker are detected during endometriosis, as well as in some other types of cancer. Determined in the complex.
CA 15-3. Antigen of cancer 15-3, this antigen is detected in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
CA 19-9 This is not a fairly specific cancer marker. gastrointestinal tractwhich is also considered in the complex with other oncomarcresses, and independently cannot be considered completely informative.
Important! For the presence in the body of a malignant tumor in rare cases may also indicate the easiest biochemical analysis blood.
Consider the main indicators in the analysis of blood, which may indicate malignant neoplasm:
- an increase in alkaline phosphatase may be the first sign of the metastatic bone tumor,
- increasing the activity of acid phosphatase is often found with prostate cancer, especially with metastases in the bone,
- increased lactate dehydrogenase level may indicate the presence of tumors with metastases or leukemia