Tumor Markers

Tumor markers ( tumor markers, TM) are laboratory-proven signs from which tumor growth depends ( oncogenes , anti -oncogenes ) or by which cancer manifests itself (tumor antigens , products of tumor cells or reactive products of non-tumor cells).


 * in the narrower (clinical) sense of the word, substances detectable in blood, urine or tissue, which have a higher value in cancer
 * used to refine the diagnosis, monitor the course of therapy and detect disease relapse early
 * they can also be elevated due to non-neoplastic causes
 * they are not used as a comprehensive screening examination, only PSA is used to screen patients at risk for prostate cancer
 * they can be produced directly by tumor cells or by non-tumor cells in response to the presence of a tumor
 * if performed in a suitable selection and at reasonable time intervals, TM examination can be a good assistant to the attending physician - determining the response to treatment, disease progression and patient prognosis
 * tumor markers can be divided according to the place of production, specificity, chemical structure and biological character

Tumor-specific tumor markers

 * is related to the presence of certain tumor tissue
 * since there is considerable overlap in TM production in different tumor tissues, specificity is low
 * suitable for monitoring cancer remission and early diagnosis of disease relapse :
 * e.g. CEA (Ca GITu), CA 19–9 ( pancreatic cancer ), CA 125 ( ovarian cancer ) etc.

Tissue-specific tumor markers

 * rather, it is related to a certain tissue in which a pathological event may take place (e.g. tumor growth)
 * often increased from non-cancerous causes (e.g. PSA in men - prostate; hCG and AFP - embryonic or liver tissue )