What does it mean if carbohydrate antigen CA 15-3 is elevated?

Nov 08, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Qi Zhirong

Introduction

Carbohydrate antigen CA15-3 is a tumor marker. Elevated levels of carbohydrate antigen CA15-3 may indicate conditions such as mammary gland hyperplasia, mastitis, breast cancer, lung cancer, or colon cancer. However, carbohydrate antigen CA15-3 is only an auxiliary diagnostic indicator and cannot be used alone to diagnose diseases. Doctors will make accurate diagnoses and provide appropriate treatment recommendations based on a comprehensive evaluation.

Carbohydrate antigen CA15-3 is a tumor marker. Elevated levels of carbohydrate antigen CA15-3 may indicate conditions such as mammary hyperplasia, mastitis, breast cancer, lung cancer, or colon cancer.

1. Mammary hyperplasia: During mammary hyperplasia, breast tissue cells may undergo a certain degree of proliferation and metabolic abnormalities, potentially leading to the release of CA15-3 into the bloodstream, thereby causing a mild increase in its levels.

2. Mastitis: Mastitis is usually caused by bacterial infection or other factors leading to inflammation of breast tissue. Inflammatory stimulation can damage breast cells, causing substances such as CA15-3 within the cells to be released into the blood, resulting in elevated serum CA15-3 levels.

3. Breast cancer: In patients with breast cancer, serum CA15-3 levels are generally significantly elevated.

4. Lung cancer: Lung cancer cells may produce certain antigenic substances structurally similar or related to CA15-3, thus causing increased blood levels of CA15-3; however, the elevation is generally not as pronounced as in patients with breast cancer.

5. Colon cancer: Although CA15-3 is not a specific marker for colon cancer, in some patients with colon cancer—particularly those with advanced disease accompanied by liver metastasis or other distant metastases—serum CA15-3 levels may increase.

Carbohydrate antigen CA15-3 is only an auxiliary diagnostic indicator and cannot be used alone to diagnose diseases. Doctors will make accurate diagnoses and provide appropriate treatment recommendations by comprehensively considering the patient's medical history, symptoms, physical signs, and results from other examinations.

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What tumor marker is CA199?

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How high must carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125) levels be to indicate a tumor?

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How high is carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in cancer?

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