What is tumor markers ?
What Are Tumor Markers?
*Tumor markers are substances that can be detected in blood, urine, or other body fluids. These substances may be secreted by tumor cells themselves or produced by the body in response to a tumor. Tumor markers are used for cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and recurrence detection, but they cannot be used alone to diagnose cancer and must be combined with other clinical examinations, such as imaging and biopsy.
*Main Uses of Tumor Markers
-Screening
In certain high-risk populations, tumor markers can help detect the possibility of cancer, such as PSA for prostate cancer screening.
-Diagnosis Assistance
Tumor markers cannot confirm a diagnosis alone but can serve as an auxiliary diagnostic tool, such as AFP’s association with liver cancer.
-Monitoring Treatment
Changes in tumor marker levels can help evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. For example, a decrease in tumor markers after chemotherapy indicates effective treatment.
-Recurrence Detection
If tumor marker levels rise again after treatment, it may indicate cancer recurrence.
*Common Tumor Markers
-AFP (Alpha-Fetoprotein): liver cancer, testicular cancer, pregnancy, liver diseases (hepatitis, cirrhosis)
-CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen): colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, smoking, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease
-CA 125: ovarian cancer, menstruation, pregnancy, endometriosis
-CA 19-9: pancreatic cancer, bile duct cancer , some benign gastrointestinal diseases
-CA 15-3: breast cancer, benign breast conditions
-PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen): prostate cancer, prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
-β-hCG (Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin): gestational trophoblastic disease, testicular cancer, pregnancy, choriocarcinoma
-Thyroglobulin: thyroid cancer, thyroid disorders
*Limitations of Tumor Markers
-Lack of Specificity: Many benign conditions, such as inflammation and infection, may also cause elevated tumor markers.
-Cannot Diagnose Cancer Alone: Tumor markers must be combined with imaging tests (e.g., CT, MRI) and biopsies for confirmation.
-Individual Variability: Even among patients with the same type of cancer, tumor marker levels may vary.
*Conclusion
Tumor markers are auxiliary tools for cancer screening, treatment monitoring, and recurrence detection, but they cannot be solely relied upon for cancer diagnosis. Proper interpretation of tumor marker levels requires professional medical evaluation, along with other diagnostic tests.
*Tumor markers are substances that can be detected in blood, urine, or other body fluids. These substances may be secreted by tumor cells themselves or produced by the body in response to a tumor. Tumor markers are used for cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and recurrence detection, but they cannot be used alone to diagnose cancer and must be combined with other clinical examinations, such as imaging and biopsy.
*Main Uses of Tumor Markers
-Screening
In certain high-risk populations, tumor markers can help detect the possibility of cancer, such as PSA for prostate cancer screening.
-Diagnosis Assistance
Tumor markers cannot confirm a diagnosis alone but can serve as an auxiliary diagnostic tool, such as AFP’s association with liver cancer.
-Monitoring Treatment
Changes in tumor marker levels can help evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. For example, a decrease in tumor markers after chemotherapy indicates effective treatment.
-Recurrence Detection
If tumor marker levels rise again after treatment, it may indicate cancer recurrence.
*Common Tumor Markers
-AFP (Alpha-Fetoprotein): liver cancer, testicular cancer, pregnancy, liver diseases (hepatitis, cirrhosis)
-CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen): colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, smoking, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease
-CA 125: ovarian cancer, menstruation, pregnancy, endometriosis
-CA 19-9: pancreatic cancer, bile duct cancer , some benign gastrointestinal diseases
-CA 15-3: breast cancer, benign breast conditions
-PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen): prostate cancer, prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
-β-hCG (Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin): gestational trophoblastic disease, testicular cancer, pregnancy, choriocarcinoma
-Thyroglobulin: thyroid cancer, thyroid disorders
*Limitations of Tumor Markers
-Lack of Specificity: Many benign conditions, such as inflammation and infection, may also cause elevated tumor markers.
-Cannot Diagnose Cancer Alone: Tumor markers must be combined with imaging tests (e.g., CT, MRI) and biopsies for confirmation.
-Individual Variability: Even among patients with the same type of cancer, tumor marker levels may vary.
*Conclusion
Tumor markers are auxiliary tools for cancer screening, treatment monitoring, and recurrence detection, but they cannot be solely relied upon for cancer diagnosis. Proper interpretation of tumor marker levels requires professional medical evaluation, along with other diagnostic tests.