Indicator Explainer
TAG-72 Antigen
Tumor-associated oncofetal glycoprotein 72 (TAG-72) is a high molecular weight (220-400 kD) complex expressed by a wide variety of human adenocarcinomas. This antigen is expressed by a majority of invasive ductal breast carcinomas, and most colon, pancreatic, gastric, esophageal, lung (non-small cell), ovarian and endometrial adenocarcinomas, and on normal secretory endometrium, but not on other normal tissues. It is not expressed by leukemias, lymphomas, sarcomas, mesotheliomas, melanomas or benign tumors. The monoclonal antibodies against TAG-72 have been widely employed for the immunohistochemical analysis of adenocarcinomas as well as for radioimmunoscintigraphy and radioimmunoguided surgery.
This page explains what the indicator is and how results are interpreted in general terms. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the method, and your own situation — no single “normal value” applies to everyone. This page is health information, not a diagnosis. For symptoms, treatment, or urgent concerns, contact a healthcare professional.
When it is tested
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C1269. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-19. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Reading results
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.