Tumor Markers In Biological Fluids Associated With Pregnancy

Abstract

Proteins that are expressed by both malignant and healthy fetal tissues are recognized as oncofetal. These antigens are associated with cell proliferation and differentiation and are produced in high concentrations in pregnancy and malignancy. Their biological role in malignancy is the suppression of the host's immune system, while in pregnancy they affect the maternal immune response, generating maternal tolerance toward the embryo. This review describes the levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA), tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in maternal serum (MS), umbilical cord serum (UC), and amniotic fluid (AF) and outlines their roles in the assessment of pregnancy and malignancy. All antigens studied, except CA 15-3, are oncofetal. The presence of considerable concentrations of AFP, hCG, CEA, CA125, SCC, MCA, TPS, CA 19-9, and PSA in AF during pregnancy may be attributed to their involvement in biological functions associated with fetal development, differentiation, and maturation. MS CEA, CA 15-3, and CA 19-9, in contrast to all the others, are not influenced significantly by pregnancy and thus remain reliable tumor markers in monitoring malignancy in pregnant patients.

Diagnostic value of CA 19-9 in pregnancies complicated by spinal neural tube defects: a preliminary study

“…These markers have previously been investigated in the biologic fluids of healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women. The presence of considerable concentrations of tumor markers during pregnancy may be attributed to their involvement in biological functions associated with fetal development, differentiation, and maturation [19]. One of these tumor markers, CA 19-9, is mostly used as a serum marker for malignancies, but it is also present in the serum and amniotic fluid of pregnant women [20].…”

Physiopathological factors affecting the diagnostic value of serum HE4-test for gynecologic malignancies

“…This finding indicated that HE4 may remain as a robust marker of ovarian cancer during pregnancy following certain adjustment. Since several other markers such as CA125 and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) tend to be elevated during pregnancy [47], HE4 could be a valuable maker to guide the triage of patients with ovarian cysts and pelvic masses in the setting of pregnancy.…”

Correlation of Cytohistlogical Expression and Serum Level of Ca125 in Ovarian Neoplasm

“…It is elevated in nonovarian carcinoma, including fallopian tube, endometrium, endocervix, pancreas, colon, stomach, gall bladder, kidney, mesothelial lining of pleura, pericardium, apocrine sweat gland etc [4]. It is also elevated in follicular phase of menstrual cycle, those with benign conditions such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, endometriosis, Pericarditis and early pregnancy [5,6]. We had taken preoperative serum values of CA125 of patients with ovarian tumors and compared with CA125 expression in imprint cytology and tissues.…”