Tag: Tumor marker
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Homovanillic acid (HVC) and Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA)
Homovanillic acid (HVA) is a major catecholamine metabolite that is produced by a consecutive action of monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyltransferase on dopamine. Homovanillic acid is used as a reagent to detect oxidative enzymes, and is associated with dopamine levels in the brain. In psychiatry and neuroscience, brain and cerebrospinal fluid levels of HVA are measured as a marker of metabolic stress caused by 2-deoxy-D-glucose. HVA presence supports a diagnosis of neuroblastoma and malignant pheochromocytoma. Fasting plasma levels of HVA are known to be…
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Calcitonin
Calcitonin is a 32 amino acid peptide hormone secreted by PARAFOLLICULAR CELLS (also known as C cells) of the thyroid (or endostyle) in humans and other chordates in the ultimopharyngeal body. It acts to reduce blood calcium (Ca2+), opposing the effects of PARATHYROID HORMONE (PTH). Its importance in humans has not been as well established as its importance in other animals, as its function is usually not significant in the…
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Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone for the maternal recognition of pregnancy produced by trophoblast cells that are surrounding a growing embryo (syncytiotrophoblast initially), which eventually forms the placenta after implantation. Cole LA (2009). “New discoveries on the biology and detection of human chorionic gonadotropin”. Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol. 7: 8. doi:10.1186/1477-7827-7-8. PMC 2649930. PMID 19171054. Gregory JJ, Finlay JL (April 1999). “Alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin: their clinical significance as…
