Oncomarkers - Norm and Pathology in Cancer Treatment
If a malignant tumor has appeared in the human body, then the content of specific proteins increases in the blood. They are isolated or cells of the tumor itself, or adjacent to it, even healthy cells that send a "notice" of danger. It is also possible to isolate protein antigens from the immune system of the whole organism, which has risen to protection from the disease.
For such proteins, the term "oncomarkers" is used. The norm of these substances is known to every oncologist. In Russian medicine, the blood test for oncomarkers is gradually included in the compulsory laboratory tests.
Benign tumors also send their markers to the blood. Such signals confirm the presence of neoplasm with a high probability. On the other hand, blood test standards for oncomarkers admit that with an increase in indicators, it can be not about cancer, but only about inflammatory processes.
Currently, scientists have found and described tumor markers for tumor formations in many organs. These include:
- prostate
- mammary gland
- pancreas
- thyroid
- lung
- gastrointestinal tract
and other organs.
If cancer is detected at an early stage, there is a chance of curing it. The success of treatment directly depends on how early it was possible to make a blood test for oncomarkers.
Until recently, the study of these proteins was carried out only after surgery to remove the tumor. Their high content meant that the cancer process was resumed. At present, the tests are done even before the start of treatment and even before the start of the traditional diagnosis. This is due to the fact that oncomarkers appear in the blood earlier than all the other symptoms of cancer, which can be detected using X-ray and ultrasound, and also with magnetic resonance imaging.
One of the problems with the cancer marker research is that it does not always indicate exactly which organ is affected by the tumor, i.e.one must bear in mind the potential danger for a group of organs. In addition, cases are known where the same organ is attacked by several types of tumors, and this is also not reflected by oncomarkers. The serum norm may be exceeded, but the picture is unclear: by analysis, one can only guess which group of organs or tumors should be worried. Therefore, in the advanced areas of modern oncology, the array( panels) of different oncomarkers are studied in one complex analysis. Such studies are called laboratory screening and are performed in oncology of European countries and the USA.Recently, screenings are also being introduced into the practice of Russian oncology.
It is extremely important to carry out the analysis for oncomarkers again. This allows you to observe the symptoms of the disease in development. There is an opportunity to make assumptions about in which direction the tumor process is going: to deterioration or to remission( restoration of relative health).
If the markers are exceeded, the norm is broken, then laboratory research should be expanded. These include a biochemical blood test, radiographic examination, magnetic resonance imaging, hormonal analysis, colonoscopy and gastroscopy, ultrasound.
At present level of oncology development, the analysis of oncomarkers is a means of solving the following problems:
- risk identification in potential patients
- focusing on the place of possible tumor localization
- evaluation of the results of the performed operation
- treatment control throughout its entirety
Oncomarkers, the norm of which is known to the physician, can be answeredto the following questions of the patient based on the analysis:
- is there an increase in the indicators?
- which markers are raised?
- what does the increased performance mean?
- should I change my treatment( if any)?
- when to conduct the next test?
Blood on oncomarkers is given in the same way as the analysis for biochemistry: from the vein. Research should be done in the morning, without taking any food beforehand. The test can be done both on the initiative of the doctor and at his own request.