Is gastrin-17 a tumor marker?
Sep 24, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, gastrin-17 is not a tumor marker; rather, it is used to evaluate lesions in the antrum of the stomach and is not solely a tumor marker. Before undergoing the test, it is recommended to maintain a positive mindset, avoid spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods, get adequate rest, and develop healthy lifestyle habits to prevent interference with test results.
Under normal circumstances, gastrin-17 is not a tumor marker; rather, it is used to assess lesions in the antral region of the stomach and should not be regarded solely as a tumor marker. The detailed explanation is as follows:
Gastrin-17 is a hormone secreted by the gastric mucosa, primarily functioning to stimulate gastric acid secretion. In healthy individuals, its levels are typically low. However, in certain disease states such as chronic atrophic gastritis or precancerous gastric lesions, gastrin-17 levels may increase.
Abnormal secretion levels of gastrin-17 may be associated with gastric tumors. Specifically, abnormally elevated levels may be linked to gastric body cancer, while abnormally decreased levels may indicate gastric antral cancer. Therefore, in clinical practice, gastrin-17 testing can serve as an important reference index for early screening of gastric cancer, assisting physicians in preliminary diagnosis. However, this test cannot directly diagnose tumors and thus should not be considered a definitive tumor marker.
Prior to testing, it is recommended to maintain a positive mindset, avoid spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods, ensure adequate rest, and develop healthy lifestyle habits to prevent interference with test results.
