Cancer Markers — Men

A four-marker oncological surveillance panel for men, covering PSA (total and free ratio for prostate cancer risk stratification), AFP (hepatocellular carcinoma and germ cell tumour marker), and CEA (colorectal, lung, gastric). At PKBH, tumour markers run on the Abbott Alinity ii and DPC Immulite 2000XPi immunochemistry platforms under SEKK accreditation. Self-pay access without referral makes this a practical annual check for men over 50 or those with relevant family history.

Tumour markers are proteins produced by or in response to malignant cells, detectable in blood before symptoms appear in some cancers. While no single marker provides a definitive cancer diagnosis, a strategically chosen panel significantly raises the probability of detecting important cancers at an earlier, more treatable stage. Markers included and their clinical context: - **PSA total (prostate-specific antigen)** — the primary screening marker for prostate cancer in men over 50. Elevated PSA can result from prostate cancer, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, or ejaculation within 48 hours of testing. Age-referenced ranges are used: men 50–59 aim for < 3 ng/mL; 60–69 < 4 ng/mL. PKBH prices total PSA at 332 Kč on self-pay. - **PSA free / PSA total ratio** — the proportion of PSA not bound to carrier proteins. A low free:total ratio (< 15–25%) increases the probability that elevated PSA is caused by cancer rather than benign prostate enlargement. Including this ratio halves unnecessary biopsies in men with borderline total PSA. Measured here at 400 Kč on self-pay. - **AFP (alpha-fetoprotein)** — the primary marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) and non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (testicular cancer). AFP is not elevated in the vast majority of benign liver disease; a rising AFP in a man with cirrhosis, viral hepatitis B or C, or heavy alcohol use is a strong indicator for urgent imaging. Self-pay price: 206 Kč. - **CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen)** — a broad-spectrum gastrointestinal and lung cancer marker. CEA is most widely used in colorectal cancer surveillance (post-resection monitoring for recurrence) and as a baseline in men with a family history of colorectal or gastric cancer. Self-pay price: 202 Kč. All four markers are run by immunochemistry at PKBH on the Abbott Alinity ii (high-sensitivity platform) or DPC Immulite 2000XPi. The laboratory holds R3 Audit certification and participates in SEKK external QC for tumour markers. **Important note:** Tumour markers are screening and monitoring tools, not diagnostic tests. An elevated result requires clinical correlation and further investigation (imaging, biopsy); a normal result does not exclude cancer. PKBH reports results with reference ranges, and critical values trigger a STATIM call. **Who benefits:** Men over 50 without symptoms for prostate cancer awareness; men with family history of prostate, colorectal, hepatic, or testicular cancer; men with known hepatitis B or C or cirrhosis for AFP surveillance; men previously treated for colorectal cancer for CEA recurrence monitoring. **Preparation:** Avoid ejaculation for 48 hours before PSA testing (affects PSA levels). No fasting required for other markers. Walk in from 07:00 — no referral needed.