How High Must Carbohydrate Antigen 72-4 (CA 72-4) Be to Indicate Cancer?
Disease description:
I went to the hospital for a check-up two days ago and found that my carbohydrate antigen 72-4 (CA 72-4) level was elevated. I’m a bit anxious—how high does CA 72-4 need to be to indicate cancer?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Qi Zhirong
Carbohydrate Antigen 72-4 (CA 72-4), also known as gastric cancer antigen, is a laboratory marker used to detect gastric cancer and other gastrointestinal malignancies. It is a non-specific tumor marker, but demonstrates relatively high specificity for gastric cancer, with a cutoff value of >6 U/mL. Elevated CA 72-4 levels typically suggest the presence of a gastrointestinal tumor; however, an isolated elevation of this marker alone is insufficient to confirm a diagnosis of cancer. It is recommended that patients undergo further diagnostic evaluations—such as abdominal color Doppler ultrasound and computed tomography (CT)—at a hospital to establish a definitive diagnosis.
