The basic principle of the test is to quantitatively evaluate the autoantibodies of ECPKA. ECPKA stands for extracellular protein kinase A. In normal cells, PKA (cAMP-dependent protein kinase) exists inside the cell and does not leak out. However, in tumor cells, PKA leaks out as ECPKA, which triggers the formation of antibodies that can be measured in the serum.
The cancer screening kit predicts whether the body is in a state prone to cancer development by analyzing the concentrations of Immunoglobulin G (IgG), Extracellular Protein Kinase A (ECPKA), and C-reactive protein (CRP) using AI. It also integrates the patient's age, gender, and genetic predisposition. Malignant tumors often occur due to impaired repair processes of damaged cells as the body ages or mutations originating from a single cell. However, not all damaged or mutated cells develop into cancer.
A healthy immune system typically eliminates abnormal cells. Still, in cases of chronic inflammation, stress, or other conditions leading to weakened immunity, the probability of cancer progression increases. Since the cancer screening kit measures both IgG and CRP levels, it also assesses the overall immune status and inflammation level of the patient.
In dogs, Immunoglobulin G (IgG) constitutes the largest proportion (70%) among the five types of immunoglobulins. It is one of the first proteins to increase when the immune system is activated due to infections, inflammation, or other immune responses. Therefore, measuring IgG allows for an overall assessment of the patient's immune status.
Chronic inflammation, stress, or medications can cause changes in immune levels. If IgG levels remain consistently low, monitoring the effects of immune boosters, antioxidants, or liver supplements may be recommended for improvement (de la Torre, Mari C et al., “Serum levels of immunoglobulins and severity of community-acquired pneumonia,” BMJ Open Respiratory Research, 2016).
ECPKA autoantibodies measured by the cancer screening kit are also a subset of immunoglobulins. Medications or diseases that affect the immune system may reduce antibody production, potentially leading to lower ECPKA autoantibody levels even in the presence of cancer. Conversely, if immunoglobulin levels are elevated, ECPKA antibody levels may also rise. To account for these variations, the cancer screening kit measures immunoglobulin levels alongside ECPKA antibodies.
Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a complex formed when hemoglobin in red blood cells binds with glucose in the blood. Measuring HbA1c provides an estimate of the degree of hyperglycemia over the past 1–2 months. This test can be performed at any time of the day without being influenced by meals or insulin administration. Since it uses whole blood, it is not affected by conditions such as hemolysis or hyperlipidemia.
The HbA1c value reflects blood glucose levels, with about 50% of the measurement influenced by the most recent month's blood glucose levels and the remaining 50% by earlier levels. The concentration of HbA1c is also affected by the lifespan of red blood cells, which in dogs is approximately 86–106 days, or an average of 115 days.
For patients with well-controlled blood glucose levels and follow-up intervals of 2–3 months, the HbA1c test, which has a longer half-life compared to fructosamine, may be more useful (Gallagher EJ, Le Roith D, Bloomgarden Z., Review of hemoglobin A(1c) in the management of diabetes, J Diabetes, 2009).
In the body, acute-phase proteins are produced by the liver in response to infections or inflammation to help regulate these conditions. C-reactive protein (CRP) in dogs is one such acute-phase protein, synthesized by the liver, and is a highly sensitive marker of inflammation.
CRP levels rise very quickly in the early stages of inflammation (within 4–6 hours), peak at 12–24 hours, and then gradually decrease. CRP can increase due to infectious diseases like pyometra or pneumonia, trauma such as traffic accidents or surgery, pancreatitis, or severe enteritis. It is commonly used to monitor treatment response and evaluate prognosis in these cases.
Additionally, CRP levels can also rise in cancer patients.
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein that increases during fetal development but is no longer produced in significant amounts once the dog reaches adulthood. However, AFP levels can rise significantly when there are issues with the liver, such as liver cancer or hepatitis. In dogs over 7 years of age, benign liver lesions such as nodular hyperplasia are common. These lesions usually require monitoring for size changes rather than surgical removal or drug treatment.
To differentiate between benign and malignant tumors in the liver, cytological or histological examination through fine needle aspiration (FNA) or biopsy is necessary. Therefore, measuring AFP levels can be helpful in distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions, especially in patients where ultrasound-guided FNA or biopsy is not feasible.
Additionally, among patients with elevated cancer screening kit results and detected liver masses during routine health check-ups, measuring AFP levels can help determine whether the increase in cancer screening kit results is due to a liver mass.
The dog multi-antibody test is a kit that quantitatively measures the antibody levels for the core and non-core vaccines commonly administered to dogs. It can assess antibodies for diseases such as canine parvovirus, distemper virus, adenovirus, influenza virus, coronavirus, and Bordetella bronchiseptica, all within a range of 1 to 6. This test allows for the evaluation of antibody levels for these various viruses in a single kit.
In cats, Immunoglobulin G (IgG) performs a similar role to that in dogs. It is one of the first antibodies to increase rapidly when the immune system is activated due to infections or inflammation, making it useful for evaluating the overall immune status of the patient. Cat IgG levels can be measured using a specific cat antibody kit, such as the No. 61 cat-specific kit.