Why Is There an Elevated Level of Carbohydrate Antigen CA72-4?
Generally, elevated levels of carbohydrate antigen CA72-4 indicate a tendency for gastric cancer in patients and may also represent other cancerous lesions in the digestive system. Carbohydrate antigen 724 is used for tumor marker testing during the recovery phase of gastric cancer: patients recovering from gastric cancer need regular check-ups, and the diagnosis of gastric cancer, diagnosis stagnation, and recurrence require the detection of tumor markers.
Patients with obvious upper gastrointestinal symptoms, such as postprandial fullness and upper abdominal discomfort, may develop upper abdominal pain and increased anorexia as the condition worsens. Combined with the value of carbohydrate antigen 724, there is a high possibility of gastric cancer. If gastric cancer is diagnosed, surgical resection is the preferred treatment. Depending on carbohydrate antigen 724, if it is found not to have invaded the muscle layer, healing after surgery is more likely.
Postoperative patients with advanced gastric cancer should receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Carbohydrate antigen CA72-4 is currently one of the best markers for diagnosing gastric cancer, with high specificity for gastric cancer and sensitivity ranging from 28% to 80%. Combined detection of CA72-4 and CEA can monitor over 70% of gastric cancers. CA72-4 also has varying degrees of detection rates for other gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancer, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer. Combined detection of CA72-4 and CA125 can serve as a marker for diagnosing primary and recurrent ovarian tumors, with a specificity of up to 100%.