What does the Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 - CA 19-9 blood test mean? Get a free analysis of your blood test now. Here's what you get with our free analysis:
CA 19-9 is a tumor marker primarily used to monitor pancreatic cancer treatment and detect recurrence. It can also be elevated in other gastrointestinal cancers, such as colorectal and stomach cancer. The test measures the level of a specific protein produced by cancer cells. While it's not used for initial cancer screening due to its lack of specificity, it's valuable for tracking treatment progress and predicting outcomes in diagnosed cases. Elevated levels may indicate tumor growth or spread, while decreasing levels can suggest treatment effectiveness. However, not all pancreatic cancers produce CA 19-9, and some non-cancerous conditions can cause elevated levels, so results should be interpreted in conjunction with other clinical findings.
A CA 19-9 level below the lower range is generally not considered clinically significant. Low levels are typical in healthy individuals and do not indicate any specific health concern. In patients with known pancreatic or other gastrointestinal cancers, very low or undetectable CA 19-9 levels might suggest that the cancer is not producing this marker, which can occur in some cases. This doesn’t necessarily indicate better or worse outcomes, as the usefulness of CA 19-9 varies among individuals.
Elevated CA 19-9 levels (>37 U/mL) can indicate the presence of pancreatic cancer or other gastrointestinal malignancies. However, it’s crucial to note that high levels are not definitive proof of cancer. Non-cancerous conditions such as pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis, and some gastrointestinal disorders can also cause elevations. In patients with known cancer, rising CA 19-9 levels may suggest disease progression or treatment resistance. The degree of elevation can sometimes correlate with tumor burden. Interpretation should always be done in the context of clinical symptoms, imaging studies, and other diagnostic tests.