TPA (tissue polypeptide antigen) is a keratin antigen that enters the serum (blood) as a component of the cytoskeleton during new cell formation or decay. Tumor markers are substances produced naturally in the body by tumors and are detectable in the blood. They can provide an indication of a malignant (malignant) neoplasm and are used as a follow-up test in cancer aftercare.
The procedure
Material needed
- Blood serum; sample transport preferably refrigerated (+2°C – +8°C) or frozen (approx. -20°C).
Preparation of the patient
- Not necessary
Disruptive factors
- None known
Normal value
| Normal value | <95 U/ml |
| Gray zone (control required) | 95-110 U/l |
| Increased | > 110 U/l |
Indications
- Suspicion of various carcinomas (see below).
- Progress and therapy control in carcinomas
Interpretation
Interpretation of increased values
- Bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer)
- Endometrial carcinoma (cancer of the uterus)
- Urinary bladder carcinoma (cancer of the urinary bladder)
- Colon carcinoma (colon cancer)
- Mammary carcinoma (breast cancer)
- Thyroid carcinoma (thyroid cancer)
- Inflammation of the urinary tract, mammary (female breast), lung and gastrointestinal tract.
- Furthermore, in: Liver cirrhosis, dialysis, diabetes mellitus, postoperative.
Interpretation of lowered values
- No diagnostic significance
Further notes
- Due to low specificity (probability that actually healthy people who do not suffer from the disease in question are also detected as healthy in the test), the TPA determination has been largely abandoned