Onco Marker REA

Confirm or refute the growth of malignant neoplasm in the digestive tract, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment allows a specific oncomarker REA. This glycoprotein is also produced in healthy adults, but in small amounts. With the development of cancer, this protein-carbohydrate compound exceeds the established boundary values.

What does the CEA or CEA oncomarker mean?

It is worth noting that both of these abbreviations refer to the same glycoprotein. Only the abbreviation CEA comes from the English Carcinoembryonic Antigen (carcinoembryonic antigen), and CEA is deciphered as a cancer-embryonic antigen. During intrauterine development of the fetus, the compound under consideration is actively produced by the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to stimulate and intensify the reproduction of cells. The purpose of even a small amount of this oncomarker in adults is not yet established.

What does the ECA oncomarker show?

The described glycoprotein is determined for the purpose of diagnosing some malignant tumors, usually tumors of the rectum and large intestine.

Nevertheless, the cancer marker CEA or cancer-embryonic antigen can not be considered a reliably specific compound, since its concentration can increase even in non-oncological pathologies. For example, CEA increases in the case of progression of autoimmune and inflammatory processes in internal organs.

Usually, CEA testing is prescribed for the early differential diagnosis of colon cancer or rectal cancer, since this test has the highest sensitivity to these malignant neoplasms. In addition, the study can be used as an additional confirmation of tumors in the stomach, lungs, milk and pancreas, prostate, ovaries, as well as the presence of metastases in the bones and liver.

Oncologists often recommend regular blood donation to the CEA cancer marker if the patient is already undergoing treatment or has undergone surgery to remove the tumor. In such situations, the concentration of the protein-carbohydrate compound will show how effective the chosen therapeutic approach was, whether a subsequent relapse of the disease is possible.

Norm of onomarker REA

In a healthy person, the amount of glycoprotein CEA should not exceed 3.8-4 ng / ml blood. The result of the analysis, located within these limits, indicates a low risk of developing a cancerous tumor.

At the same time, the test for CEA is not sensitive to other tumors located outside the gastrointestinal tract.

Why can the CEA oncomarker be promoted?

The increased concentration of the protein-carbohydrate compound REA is observed in malignant tumors of such organs:

There are also non-oncological reasons for increasing CEA:

Moreover, a small increase in the concentration of cancer embryonic antigen is observed in smokers. For them, even the values ​​of the norm of CEA have been changed from 0 to 5.5 ng / ml. Similar indicators are used for those who abuse strong alcoholic beverages that are addicted to drugs.