Skip to main content

Cancerous and Benign Causes of Elevated CEA 125 Level

Benign and dangerous causes of elevated CEA 125 level in bloodCEA 125 is an antigen that is expressed in the epithelial linings of the female genital tract, respiratory tract, cornea and conjunctiva. It is encoded by the MUC 16 gene (Mucin 16 Gene). MUC 16 protein (CEA), is a complex molecule, heavily glycosylated and easily water soluble, which allows it to keep the epithelial surfaces wet and lubricated. This creates a lubricated barrier against foreign bodies and pathogens.
CEA 125 is a tumour marker, it is found to be elevated in dangerous conditions like numerous cancers. But if it's level comes higher in a patient it doesn’t mean that she or he is definitely suffering from cancer, This is because there are several non-cancerous or benign conditions that may raise the CEA 125 level in blood.

Dangerous (Cancerous) causes of elevated CEA 125 level:

Dangerous or cancerous causes are those that have the tendency to decrease the life expectancy of a patient unless they are eliminated or controlled. These include numerous cancers including,
  • Ovarian Cancer
  • Lung Cancer
  • Breast Cancer
  • Gastrointestinal Cancer
  • Endometrial Cancer
  • Fallopian Tube Cancer
  • Pancreatic Cancer
These are the dangerous conditions which may elevate the CEA 125 level in blood. Lets us now discuss the benign or non-dangerous conditions that may elevate the CEA 125 level.

Benign Causes of Elevated CEA 125 level.

Benign or non-cancerous causes are those which are relatively non-dangerous or are not life-threatening. These include:

Can it be used as a screening method for ovarian cancer?

From the above discussion now we know that there are several non-dangerous or benign conditions that may lead to an elevated level of CEA 125 in blood. Thus, CEA 125 level can’t be used as a screening method for ovarian cancer in women. But CEA 125 level can be used as a prognostic factor after the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. But in some ovarian cancers, CEA 125 level doesn’t elevate at all. So there are limitations. It can only be used as a prognostic factor in those ovarian cancers which elevate the level of CEA 125 in blood. In this cancer, after the onset of treatment, response to the treatment can be measured with the help of CEA 125 level in blood. Those patients who respond to the treatment will show a progressive decrease in the level of CEA 125. But there are limitations and further studies are needed to determine the exact role of CEA 125 in prognosis and response to treatment.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Post Your Reply and Give Your Opinion About the Post

Popular posts from this blog

Human Parasites, Types of Parasites, and Classification

Parasite: A parasite is a living organism which gets nutrition and protection from another organism where it lives. Parasites enter into the human body through mouth, skin and genitalia. In this article, we will generally discuss the types and classification of parasites. It is important from an academic point of view. Those parasites are harmful, which derives their nutrition and other benefits from the host and host get nothing in return but suffers from some injury. Types of Parasites Ecto-parasite: An ectoparasite lives outside on the surface of the body of the host. Endo-parasite: An endo-parasite lives inside the body of the host, it lives in the blood, tissues, body cavities, digestive tract or other organs. Temporary parasite: A temporary parasite visits its host for a short period of time. Permanent parasite: Permanent parasite lives its whole life in the host. Facultative parasite: A facultative parasite can live both independently and dependently. It lives in the...
Post a Comment
Read more.>>

How to taper off, wean off beta blocker, atenolol, Propranolol, Metoprolol

Beta blockers include, atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal ) and metoprolol (Lopressor) and are used to treat high blood pressure, certain cardiac problems, migraine and few other conditions. People usually take atenolol, propranolol or metoprolol for many years as a treatment of high blood pressure or after having an episode of heart attack . Sometimes, it becomes necessary to withdraw these beta blockers due to their potential side effects that trouble the patients or sometimes doctor wants to change the drug and shift the patient to some other anti-hypertensive medicine. No matter whatever the cause is, whenever, a patient who has been using a beta blocker for a long period of time, and he needs to be stopped from further usage of that beta blocker, must not stop taking it. One should taper off the dose of a beta blocker. Now a question arises how to wean off or taper off a beta blocker? The method of tapering off beta blocker varies from individual to individual. Allow you...
Post a Comment
Read more.>>