AFP - ALPHA FETOPROTEIN: Alpha-fetoprotein is a glycoprotein (70K Daltons) and is normally produced during fetal and neonatal development by the liver, yolksac and GI tract (trace amounts).

ANTIGEN: Virus coded cell surface antigens that appear soon after the infection of a cell by virus, but before virus replication has begun.

ASSAY: A procedure in which the determination of the amount of a particular constituent of a mixture or of the biological or pharmacological potency of a drug is calculated.

CA 15-3 - BREAST CANCER ANTIGEN: There are number of tumor markers that can help clinicians to identify and diagnose which breast cancer patients will have aggressive disease and which will have indolent course. These markers include estrogen and progesterone receptors, DNA ploidy and percent-S phase profile, EGF receptor, HER2/neu oncogene, p53 tumor suppressor gene, cathepsinD, proliferation markers and CA 15-3 Cancer antigen.

CA 15-3 is the most useful for monitoring patients post-operatively for recurrence, particularly those with matastatic diseases. 96% of patients with local and systemic recurrence have very elevated levels of CA15-3 which can be used to predict recurrence earlier than radiological and clinical criteria

CA 125 - CANCER ANTIGEN 125: Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) is a surface antigen associated with epithelial cells of the ovarian cancer. In serum CA125 is associated with a high molecular weight glycoprotein.

CEA - CARINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN: Carcinoembroyonic antigen (CEA) is a cell-surface 200-kd glycoprotein and it was reported in 1969 that plasma CEA was elevated in 35 to 36 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon.

CONJUGATE: In chemistry, this refers to an acid and a base which can convert to each other by the gain or loss of a proton (a hydrogen nucleus), which together are called a conjugate acid-base pair. It can also refer to two liquids in equilibrium with each other.

C-REACTIVE PROTEIN: Human C-reactive protein (CRP) consist of five single subunits which are non covalently linked as a cyclic pentamer in a molecular range 110K to 140K Dalton. It is an acute phase reactant produced by the liver under the control of interleukin-6.

ELISA: The enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay is serologic test used as a general screening tool for the detection of antibodies to the HIV virus. Reported as positive or negative. Since false positive tests due occur (for example recent flu shot), positives will require further evaluation using the western blot. ELISA technology links an a measurable enzyme to either an antigen or antibody. In this way, it can then measure the presence of an antibody or an antigen in the bloodstream.

ESTRADIOL: A hormone (272 D) synthesised mainly in the ovary, but also in the placenta, testis and possibly adrenal cortex. A potent oestrogen.

HORMONES: A naturally occuring substance secreted by specialised cells that affects the metabolism or behaviour of other cells possessing functional receptors for the hormone. Hormones may be hydrophilic, like insulin, in which case the receptors are on the cell surface or lipophilic, like the steroids, where the receptor can be intracellular.

CORTICOSTERONE: An adrenocortical steroid that has modest but significant activities as a mineralocorticoid and a glucocorticoid.

CORTISOL: The major adrenal glucocorticoid, stimulates conversion of proteins to carbohydrates, raises blood sugar levels and promotes glycogen storage in the liver.

IgE: Class of immunoglobulin (188 kD) associated with immediate type hypersensitivity reactions and helminth infections. Present in very low amounts in serum and mostly bound to mast cells and basophils that have an immunoglobulin E specific Fc receptor (FceR).

PROGESTRONE: A hormone produced in the corpus luteum, as an antagonist of oestrogens. Promotes proliferation of uterine mucosa and the implantation of the blastocyst, prevents further follicular development.

PROSTATIC ACID PHOSHATASE (PAP):

PROSTRATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN: An enzyme that is produced by epithelial cells of both benign and malignant prostate tissue. It is an important marker for the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

TESTOSTERONE: Male sex hormone (androgen) secreted by the interstitial cells of the testis of mammals and responsible for triggering the development of sperm and of many secondary sexual characteristics.