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cancer antigen CA 50 in serum
Clinical significance:
1) antigen is similar to CA 19-9, but lacks a fucose
2) the epitope would then be sialylated lacto-N-pentaose II
3) the antigen is related to the Lewis blood group substance
4) only Le(a-b-) patients will be CA 50 positive
CA 19-9, CA 19-5 & CA 50 in serum are elevated in:
1) gastric carcinoma
2) pancreatic carcinoma
3) hepatocellular carcinoma
Use of both CA 19-9 & CA 50 can improve sensitivity.
CA 19-9, CA 19-5 & CA 50 may be also elevated by cholestasis.
Increases:
1) gastric carcinoma
2) pancreatic carcinoma
3) hepatocellular carcinoma
4) cholestasis
Related
breast cancer
cancer antigen CA 19-9 (carbohydrate antigen 19-9) in serum
General
test for tumor antigen
References
Clinical Diagnosis & Management by Laboratory Methods,
19th edition, J.B. Henry (ed), W.B. Saunders Co.,
Philadelphia, PA. 1996, pg 1075-76