Cancer Marker Profile (Colorectal) Monoclonal Antibody With Gene Analysis Blood

Cancer marker profile (Colorectal) Monoclonal Antibody with Gene Analysis Blood test is used to detect whether an individual is having colon and rectal cancer or not.

What are the colon, rectum and Colorectal Cancer?

The colon is also called the large intestine. It carries the wastes that must be expelled from the body. It has four parts and they are ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon and sigmoid colon. The rectum is the final few inches of the colon.

Colorectal cancer is cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. This cancer can also be called colon cancer or rectum cancer depending on where cancer starts.

What are CEA, CA 19-9, p53 gene, Ras gene, and microsatellite instability?

A tumor marker is a substance produced by the body in the presence of cancer or cancer itself can make tumor markers. Some of the tumor markers are specific to one cancer and some are seen in different types of cancers.

Carcinoembryonic antigen CEA is a protein generally produced in the gastrointestinal tissue during fetal development. But, its production is stopped before the birth of a child. So, CEA levels in the blood of healthy adults are very low. The Carcinoembryonic Antigen CEA can be used as tumor markers for stomach, pancreatic, lung, gastric and breast cancers.CEA attaches to the plasma membrane of tumor cells and gets released into the blood.

Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 CA 19-9 is a type of antigen released by the pancreatic cancer cells. It can be used to differentiate cancer and other diseases of the glands.

Ras genes are the genes that encode the proteins that can cause cancer when mutated. These genes regulate the signaling pathways and other interactions.

P53 gene is also known as tumor protein p53, tumor suppressor p53, and phosphoprotein p53. It is important for cells to suppress cancer.

Microsatellite instability MSI is a genetic condition in which impaired DNA mismatch repair occurs.

Why this test is performed?

This test is performed to find whether an individual is having colon or rectal cancer or not. Your doctor may ask to perform this test if you experience any signs and symptoms such as constipation, changes in bowel habits, blood in feces, black colored stools, tiredness, unexplained weight loss, a lump in the abdomen, iron deficiency etc..

This test is recommended by the physician to check the effectiveness of the treatment of colon and rectal cancer. This also helps the physician to plan the treatment for an individual who is having colon or rectal cancer.

Pathology Test Parameters: This test includes the following parameters:- CEA, CA 19-9. P53 gene, Ras gene, and microsatellite instability

The normal reference range may vary depending on gender, age, health history, etc.

If your test results show high levels of CEA and CA 19-9 than the given normal reference range, it may indicate that the person is most likely to have colon or rectal cancer, and also indicates that the treatment is not working well.

If CEA and CA 19-9 levels are lower or in the normal range, it may indicate that the person is unlikely to have colon or rectal cancer or may indicate that the treatment is working well.

If test results are positive it indicates that p 53 gene, Ras gene, and microsatellite instability are present and indicative of colorectal cancer.

Based on the test results, your doctor may advise appropriate medical treatments, lifestyle modifications, or further diagnostic tests.