TM-CA 72-4 / REF: HYE-5382

The DRG CA 72-4 CLIA is a chemiluminescence immunoassay for the quantitative in vitro diagnostic measurement CA 72-4 in serum and plasma

CA 72-4 (Cancer antigen 72-4) was originally described as an antigenic determinant recognized by B 72.3, a
murine monoclonal antibody raised against a membrane extract of mamacarcinoma metastases (1). CA 72-4
was identified as a 1 MDa mucine-like Glycoprotein complex termed TAG-72 (tumor associated antigen 72)
(2). The molecular weight of the TAG-72 protein is 48 kD. Elevated CA 72-4 levels in serum and plasma
have been reported in various malignant diseases including carcinomas of pancreas, stomach, gall, colon,
mamma, ovaries, cervix and endometrium (3). The highest diagnostic sensitivities are found for carcinomas
of the gastrointestinal tract and ovaries. Although some benign diseases such as rheumatic diseases or
ovary cysts may also result in elevated levels of CA 72-4, clinical studies demonstrated diagnostic
specificities of more than 95% for gastrointestinal and ovarian malignancies (4). There is a good correlation
between CA 72-4 levels and tumor stage and size (3). CA 72-4 is the marker of choice for the therapeutic
monitoring and follow-up care of gastrointestinal cancer patients. Suitable second markers are CA 19-9 or
CEA. Additionally, CA 72-4 has been used as an independent marker for the therapeutic monitoring and
follow-up care of ovarian cancer patients, in particular in CA 125 negative patients