Cancer Markers

What is the normal range for cancer markers?

Normal range: < 2.5 ng/ml. Normal range may vary somewhat depending on the brand of assay used. Levels > 10 ng/ml suggest extensive disease and levels > 20 ng/ml suggest metastatic disease.

What are cancer markers in a blood test?

Tumor markers are chemicals made by tumor cells that can be detected in your blood. But tumor markers are also produced by some normal cells in your body, and levels may be significantly elevated in noncancerous conditions. This limits the potential for tumor marker tests to help in diagnosing cancer.

Common tumour markers currently in use


tumour markers

cancers

  • Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
  • Liver, germ cell cell cancer of ovaries or testes
  • CA 15-3 (Cancer antigen 15-3)
  • Breast cancer and others, including lung, ovarian
  • CA 19-9 (Cancer antigen 19-9)
  • Pancreatic, sometimes bowel and bile ducts
  • CA-125 (Cancer antigen 125)
  • Ovarian