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Friday, 28 August 2026

CASE 923: POSITIVE CA 72-4 and COLLAGEN MILK, Dr PHAN THANH HẢI, Dr TRƯƠNG CÔNG THÀNH , MEDIC MEDICAL CENTER, HCMC, VIETNAM

 A 68 year-old physician with positive  CA 72-4 in taking hydrolyzed collagen milk  without biotin daily for one year. He denied using colchicine anytime in history.

Ultrasound detected a small stone in the right kidney.




and whole body CT noted a node of the left lung,  and a small cyst  and a stone of the kidney. A diverticule of the colon was noted.





Gastrointestinal endoscopy normal

Colonoscopy  and result of biopsy: TUBULAR ADENOMA WITH MILD INTESTINAL DYSPLASIA.

It consists of densely packed hyperplastic glandular ducts, separated by loose fibrous stroma. The glandular epithelial cells are poorly differentiated, atypical, interspersed with differentiated goblet-like cells, with some areas showing low-grade dysplasia. The polyp barrier could not be identified on this specimen.

CONCLUSION: TUBULAR ADENOMA WITH MILD INTESTINAL DYSPLASIA) (D12).

Lab data in the third time while not using hydrolyzed collagen milk for three days :

CYFRA 21-1<3.3 ng/mL

CA 72-4 (Cancer antigen 72-4) <8.20 U/mL


DiSCUSSSIONS:



May collagen milk involving in CA 72-4 levels?

Conditions that increase CA 72-4 are not related to cancer(*)
 •5% gastrointestinal or heart disease
• 4% of liver diseases
•  3-7% of cases involve pancreatitis.
• 6% lung diseases, 9% pneumonia. 
The majority are rheumatic diseases and arthritis.
Take PPIs and colchicine.
•10% of gynecological diseases, 25% of ovarian cysts
•5% of pregnant women have CA 72-4 levels that are double the normal limit.

(*) Trapé (2024). Factors influencing blood tumor marker concentrations in the absence of neoplasia. Tumor Biology. https://doi.org/10.3233_TUB-220023


In vitro studies suggest that collagen may be a potential anticancer agent (*). 

Treatment with 1 ug/mL of collagen significantly reduced cell viability (p = 0.0045) and cell migration (56.86 ± 6.89% vs. 81.31 ± 2.65%, p < 0.0001) in HCT116 cancer cells, while promoting fibroblast proliferation (p = 0.0143) without causing cytotoxicity. 
Regarding tumor markers, CA19-9 levels after collagen treatment were significantly reduced (1.04 ± 0.21 vs. 4.61 ± 0.69, p = 0.013) in HCT116 cells, while CEA, CA72-4, and CYFRA 21-1 levels remained unchanged.

(*) Karcioglu Batur, Lutfiye et al. "Kiperin Double-Hydrolyzed Collagen as a Potential Anti-Tumor Agent: Effects on HCT116 Colon Carcinoma Cells and Oxidative Stress Modulation." Current issues in molecular biology vol. 47,5 364. 15 May. 2025, doi:10.3390/cimb47050364 


CONCLUSIONS:

Many benign conditions can increase CA 72-4 levels.
• Inform patients before ordering tests and rule out malignancy if results are abnormal.
• Clinical case: CA 72-4 levels increased while consuming collagen milk; CA 72-4 levels returned to normal after consumption stopped.

 No evidence has been found in the literature regarding the effect of collagen consumption on blood CA 72-4 levels. 

• Further attention be paid to detecting similar cases.

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