Tumor markers

Tumor markers (tumor markers, TM) are laboratory detectable marks from which the tumor growth unwound (Proto-oncogenes, oncogenes, anti-oncogenes) or a malignancy which manifests itself (tumor antigens, umor cells or products of the reactive products of non-tumor cells).


 * in the narrower (clinical) sense of the word substances that can be determined  in blood, urine or tissue and have a higher value in cancer
 * use to refine diagnosis, monitor the course of therapy and detect early relapse
 * they can also be elevated by non-tumor causes
 * are not used as nationwide screening, only the PSA is used for screening of patients at risk for Ca prostate
 * they can be produced directly by tumor cells or non-tumor cells in response to the presence of a tumor
 * if the TM examination is performed at the appropriate choice and at reasonable intervals, it can be a good helper for the attending physician - determining the response to treatment, disease progression and the patient's prognosis
 * tumor markers can be divided according to the site of production, specificity, chemical structure and biological character

Tumor-specific tumor markers

 * associated with the presence of certain tumor tissue
 * due to the considerable overlap of TM production in different tumor tissues, the specificity is low
 * suitable for monitoring remission of cancer and early diagnosis of disease relapse:
 * eg CEA (Ca GITu), CA 19–9 (Pancreatic Cancer), CA 125 (ovarian cancer), etc.

Tissue-specific tumor markers

 * rather related to a certain tissue in which a pathological event may take place (eg tumor growth)
 * often increased from non-tumor causes (eg PSA in men - prostate; hCG a AFP – germinal liver tissue)