CA19.9

• a sensitive marker for pancreatic, gastric and hepatobiliary malignancies. Elevated CA 19.9 levels may also be seen in other gastrointestinal cancers and chronic pancreatitis. Painless jaundice with normal tumour markers does not rule out pancreatic cancer.

Alpha fetoprotein (αFP) 

• typically raised in testicular teratoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (βhCG)

• typically raised in testicular tumours (both teratomas and seminomas) and of course, pregnancy (including normal, ectopic and molar pregnancies.

Cancer antigen 125 (CA 125)

• elevated in 80% of patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma, but may be normal in the early stages of the disease.

Cancer antigen (CEA)

• typically raised in colorectal carcinoma, although it lacks the sensitivity and specificity required for it to be an effective screening test. It is more useful in diagnosing recurrent malignant disease following treatment.