Cancer Profile (Men)

Marker Full Name Fasting Required? Organ / Cancer Type Purpose Normal Range

• PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen)
  • Fasting: Preferred (avoid ejaculation & cycling 48 hrs prior)
  • Organ/Cancer: Prostate – used for Prostate Cancer
  • Measures: Protein produced by prostate cells
  • High PSA:
    • Prostate cancer
    • Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
    • Prostatitis
  • Normal Range: < 4.0 ng/mL (age-specific ranges used)
  • Used for:
    • Screening in men over 50 (or earlier with family history)
    • Monitoring treatment response and recurrence
• AFP (Alpha-Fetoprotein)
  • Fasting: Yes
  • Organ/Cancer:
    • Testicular germ cell tumors
    • Liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma)
  • Measures: Fetal plasma protein normally made in the liver
  • High AFP:
    • Testicular cancer (non-seminomatous)
    • Liver cancer
    • Hepatitis or cirrhosis (mild elevation)
  • Normal Range: < 10 ng/mL
  • Used For:
    • Diagnosis & monitoring of testicular/liver tumors
    • NOT elevated in seminomas (pure)
• Beta-HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin – β-hCG)
  • Fasting: Yes
  • Organ/Cancer:
    • Testicular cancer (especially seminomas & choriocarcinoma)
  • Measures: Hormone normally produced during pregnancy
  • High β-hCG:
    • Testicular tumors
    • Trophoblastic diseases (e.g., choriocarcinoma)
    • Certain ovarian tumors in women
  • Normal Range (men): < 5 mIU/mL
  • Used For:
    • Monitoring response and recurrence in testicular cancer
    • Often ordered with AFP for full testicular tumor panel
• CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen)
  • Fasting: Yes (preferred)
  • Organ/Cancer:
    • Colorectal cancer
    • Also elevated in lung, pancreatic, gastric, and breast cancers
  • Measures: Glycoprotein involved in cell adhesion
  • High CEA:
    • Colorectal cancer (especially metastatic)
    • Heavy smokers (false positive)
    • Liver disease
  • Normal Range:
    • < 3 ng/mL in non-smokers
    • < 5 ng/mL in smokers
  • Used For:
    • Monitoring after colorectal surgery
    • Not useful for screening due to low specificity
• CA 19-9 (Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9)
  • Fasting: Yes
  • Organ/Cancer:
    • Pancreatic cancer
    • Also elevated in biliary tract and gastric cancers
  • Measures: Tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen
  • High CA 19-9:
    • Pancreatic adenocarcinoma
    • Cholangiocarcinoma
    • Pancreatitis, bile duct obstruction (false positives)
  • Normal Range: < 37 U/mL
  • Used For:
    • Monitoring pancreatic cancer treatment/recurrence
    • Not recommended for screening due to low sensitivity in early disease

Summary Table

Additional Notes:

• Tumor markers are NOT diagnostic by themselves. They should always be interpreted alongside:
  • Imaging (CT, MRI, PET scans)
  • Biopsy reports
  • Clinical history & symptoms
• Mild elevations can occur in benign conditions