SERUM TUMOR MARKER PROFILES IN PATIENTS FROM QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF CA 19-9, CEA, AFP, AND CA-125

Abstract

Background: Serum tumor markers are widely utilized in clinical practice for the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment monitoring, and surveillance of various malignancies. Among these, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) are commonly employed to aid in the evaluation of different cancer types. Objective: This study aimed to retrospectively analyze serum tumor marker profiles in patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Quetta, Balochistan, and to assess variations in marker levels with ,Medical diagnosis across different demographic groups. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on laboratory data collected from patients evaluated for tumor markers at a tertiary care hospital in Quetta. Serum levels of CA 19-9, CEA, AFP, and CA-125 were analyzed in relation to demographic characteristics and clinical indications. Results: The majority of patients demonstrated markedly elevated CA 19-9 levels, ranging from 70–300 U/mL to extremely high concentrations (>10,000 U/mL), showing a strong association with pancreatic malignancies. Moderately elevated levels of CEA, CA-125, and CA 15-3 were observed in a subset of patients, suggesting multi-organ involvement. Significantly increased CEA levels, reaching up to >1,000 ng/mL, were predominantly observed in older patients and were indicative of advanced tumor burden. Conclusion: The findings highlight the clinical significance of serum tumor markers in the diagnosis and management of malignancies. Tumor marker profiling plays a vital role in disease monitoring, prognostication, therapeutic decision-making, and long-term surveillance, particularly in resource-limited settings such as Balochistan.