Evidence-Based Supplement & Herb Guides

HE4 Blood Test: Ovarian Cancer Risk, High Levels, ROMA Score, and Result Meaning

Learn what an HE4 blood test measures, why HE4 can be high, how kidney function affects results, how ROMA combines HE4 and CA-125, and how the marker is monitored.

The HE4 blood test measures human epididymis protein 4, a protein that can be elevated in many epithelial ovarian cancers. Doctors may use HE4...

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Tumor Marker Test: Germ Cell Tumors, High Levels, and Monitoring

Learn how hCG is used as a tumor marker for germ cell tumors, what high levels can mean, how AFP and LDH fit into staging, and why serial hCG trends matter.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is best known as the hormone detected in pregnancy tests, but it is also an important blood tumor marker for...

Immunofixation Blood Test: Monoclonal Protein, Immunoglobulin Type, Myeloma, and Meaning

Learn what an immunofixation blood test detects, how IgG, IgA, IgM, kappa, and lambda results are interpreted, and what a monoclonal protein may mean.

An immunofixation blood test looks for abnormal, identical antibodies or antibody fragments made by one clone of plasma cells or B cells. These proteins...

Inhibin A Tumor Marker Test: Granulosa Cell Tumors, High Levels, and Monitoring

Learn how the inhibin A tumor marker test is used for granulosa cell tumors, what high levels can mean, typical ranges, and how trends help with monitoring.

The inhibin A tumor marker test measures inhibin A, a hormone made mainly by ovarian granulosa cells. It can be useful when a granulosa...

Inhibin B Tumor Marker Test: Granulosa Cell Tumors, High Levels, Recurrence, and Monitoring

Learn how the inhibin B tumor marker test is used for granulosa cell tumors, what high levels mean, and how serial results can help detect recurrence and monitor disease.

The inhibin B tumor marker test measures a hormone made mainly by ovarian granulosa cells. It is one of the most useful blood markers...

Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Tumor Marker Test: High Levels, Cancer Burden, Cell Damage, and Prognosis

Learn what a high LDH blood test means, how cancer burden and cell damage can raise LDH, common non-cancer causes, normal ranges, and how LDH affects prognosis.

Lactate dehydrogenase, or LDH, is an enzyme found in nearly every tissue in the body. A blood LDH test is sometimes called a tumor...

M Protein Blood Test: Multiple Myeloma, Monoclonal Protein, SPEP, and Result Meaning

Learn what an M protein blood test shows, how SPEP measures a monoclonal protein, what an M-spike can mean, and how results are used in multiple myeloma and MGUS.

An M protein blood test looks for a monoclonal immunoglobulin made by one clone of plasma cells or B cells. The abnormal protein is...

Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE) Blood Test: Neuroendocrine Tumors, Small Cell Lung Cancer, and High Levels

Learn what the NSE blood test measures, why neuron-specific enolase rises in small cell lung cancer and neuroendocrine tumors, and how results are monitored.

Neuron-specific enolase, or NSE, is an enzyme found mainly in neurons and neuroendocrine cells. A serum NSE blood test can be used as an...

OVA1 Test: Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment, Biomarker Score, and Result Meaning

Learn how the OVA1 test combines five biomarkers into an ovarian malignancy risk score, what the 5.0 and 4.4 cutoffs mean, and when the test is used.

The OVA1 test is a blood-based multivariate index assay used to help estimate the likelihood that an ovarian or adnexal mass is malignant before...

Pancreatic Polypeptide Test: Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors, High Levels, and Meaning

Learn what a pancreatic polypeptide test measures, why fasting matters, what high PP levels can mean, and how the test fits into pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor evaluation.

A pancreatic polypeptide (PP) test measures pancreatic polypeptide in blood, usually plasma. PP is a hormone released mainly by specialized cells in the pancreas,...

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Tumor Marker Test: Parathyroid Tumors, High Calcium, and Result Meaning

Learn how to interpret a PTH blood test with calcium, what high PTH can mean, how benign parathyroid adenomas differ from carcinoma, and what tests usually come next.

A parathyroid hormone (PTH) blood test measures the hormone that helps regulate calcium and phosphorus in the body. It is commonly used to investigate...

PIVKA-II Test: Liver Cancer Marker, High Levels, Vitamin K Status, and HCC Monitoring

Learn what the PIVKA-II/DCP liver cancer marker measures, what high levels can mean, how vitamin K and warfarin affect results, and how the test helps monitor HCC.

A PIVKA-II test measures an abnormal form of prothrombin that can rise in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer. PIVKA-II is...

Pro-Gastrin-Releasing Peptide (ProGRP) Test: Small Cell Lung Cancer Marker, High Levels, and Monitoring

Pro-gastrin-releasing peptide, usually shortened to ProGRP, is a blood tumor marker most closely associated with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). It can help support...

Prostate Health Index (PHI) Test: PSA, Free PSA, p2PSA, and Prostate Cancer Risk Score

Understand what the Prostate Health Index (PHI) measures, how PSA, free PSA, and p2PSA create the score, what high PHI may mean, and how it guides biopsy decisions.

The Prostate Health Index (PHI, or phi) is a blood test that combines three prostate-specific antigen measurements—total PSA, free PSA, and proPSA (p2PSA)—into one...

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: Normal Range, High Levels, Prostate Cancer Risk, and Benign Causes

Learn how to interpret a PSA blood test, why there is no single normal cutoff, what benign conditions can raise PSA, how results relate to prostate cancer risk, and what follow-up may involve.

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures a protein made by prostate cells and released into the blood. It is widely used to assess prostate...

PTH-Related Peptide (PTHrP) Test: Cancer-Related High Calcium, Humoral Hypercalcemia, and Meaning

Understand why PTHrP is tested in high calcium, what elevated PTHrP can mean, how humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy is identified, and why kidney function and assay type matter.

A parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) test is mainly used to investigate certain cases of unexplained high blood calcium, especially when cancer-related hypercalcemia is suspected....

ROMA Test: Ovarian Cancer Risk Score, CA-125, HE4, and Menopause Status

Learn what the ROMA ovarian cancer risk test measures, how CA-125, HE4, and menopause status affect the score, what high risk means, and why ROMA is not a screening test.

The Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA) is a blood-test calculation used to estimate the likelihood that an adnexal or ovarian mass is malignant...

Serotonin Blood Test: Carcinoid Syndrome, Neuroendocrine Tumors, High Levels, and Monitoring

Learn what a serotonin blood test can show in carcinoid syndrome and neuroendocrine tumors, what high levels mean, why 5-HIAA is often preferred, and how results are monitored.

A serotonin blood test measures circulating serotonin and may be used as part of the evaluation of suspected carcinoid syndrome or a serotonin-producing neuroendocrine...

Somatostatin Blood Test: Somatostatinoma, Neuroendocrine Tumor, High Levels, and Meaning

Learn what a somatostatin blood test measures, what high levels can mean in somatostatinoma, how fasting and specimen handling affect results, and how neuroendocrine tumors are confirmed.

A somatostatin blood test measures the hormone somatostatin and is mainly used when a rare functioning neuroendocrine tumor called a somatostatinoma is suspected. Somatostatin...

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen (SCC Antigen) Blood Test: High Levels, Squamous Tumors, and Monitoring

Learn what an SCC antigen blood test measures, which squamous cancers can raise it, common benign causes of high levels, and how serial SCC antigen may be used during cervical cancer follow-up.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC antigen, SCC-Ag, or SCCA) is a blood tumor marker that can be elevated in several cancers made of squamous...