TUMOR MARKERS

What is it?

Tumor markers are substances that are produced by cancer or by other cells of the

body in response to cancer or certain benign (noncancerous) conditions. Most tumor

markers are made by normal cells as well as by cancer cells; however, they are produced

at much higher levels in cancerous conditions. These substances can be found in the blood, urine, stool, tumor tissue, or other tissues or bodily fluids of some patients with

cancer. 

KEY FEATURES

Tumor markers are substances found in the blood, urine, stool, other bodily fluids, or tissues of some patients with cancer.

Tumor markers may be used to help diagnose cancer, predict a patient’s response to certain cancer therapies, check a patient’s response to treatment, or determine whether cancer has returned.

More than 20 tumor markers are currently in use.

TUMOR MARKERS ARE USED TO HELP DETECT, DIAGNOSE, AND MANAGE SOME TYPES OF CANCER. ALTHOUGH AN ELEVATED LEVEL OF A TUMOR MARKER MAY SUGGEST THE PRESENCE OF CANCER, THIS ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH TO DIAGNOSE CANCER. THEREFORE, MEASUREMENTS OF TUMOR MARKERS ARE USUALLY COMBINED WITH OTHER TESTS, SUCH AS  BIOPSIES, TO DIAGNOSE CANCER.

TUMOR MARKER LEVELS MAY BE MEASURED BEFORE TREATMENT TO HELP DOCTORS PLAN THE APPROPRIATE THERAPY. IN SOME TYPES OF CANCER, THE LEVEL OF A TUMOR MARKER REFLECTS THE STAGE (EXTENT) OF THE DISEASE AND/OR THE PATIENT’S PROGNOSIS

How are tumor markers used in cancer care?

Tumor markers may also be measured periodically during cancer therapy. A decrease in the level of a tumor marker or a return to the marker’s normal level may indicate that the cancer is responding to treatment, whereas no change or an increase may indicate that the cancer is not responding.

Tumor markers may also be measured after treatment has ended to check for recurrence .

http://www.cancersafe.com/screening/index.asp

How are tumor markers measured? 

1

•Sample of tumor tissue or bodily fluid sent to lab

2

•The marker’s level will be measured in multiple samples taken over time.

3

•Serial measurements shows the status of the marker.

Techniques..[Continued]

• Radio immune assay

• Enzyme immune assay

• Fluorescence assay

• Chemiluminiscence assay

•

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS….

A NUMBER OF TUMOR MARKERS ARE CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR A WIDE RANGE OF CANCER TYPES. ALTHOUGH

MOST OF THESE CAN BE TESTED IN LABORATORIES THAT MEET STANDARDS

SET BY THE CLINICAL LABORATORY IMPROVEMENT AMENDMENTS, SOME CANNOT BE AND MAY THEREFORE BE CONSIDERED EXPERIMENTAL. TUMOR

MARKERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN COMMON USE ARE LISTED …

What tumor markers are currently being used, and for

which cancer types?

Continued…Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)Cancer type: Prostate cancerTissue analyzed: BloodHow used: To help in diagnosis, assess response to treatment, and look for recurrenceThyroglobulinCancer type: Thyroid cancerTissue analyzed: TumorHow used: To evaluate response to treatment and look for recurrenceUrokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1)Cancer type: Breast cancerTissue analyzed: TumorHow used: To determine aggressiveness of cancer and guide treatment5-Protein signature (Ova1)Cancer type: Ovarian cancerTissue analyzed: BloodHow used: To pre-operatively assess pelvic mass for suspected ovarian cancer

Continued…

ALK gene rearrangementsCancer types: Non-small cell lung cancer and anaplastic large cell lymphomaTissue analyzed: TumorHow used: To help determine treatment and prognosisAlpha-fetoprotein (AFP)Cancer types: Liver cancer and germ cell tumorsTissue analyzed: BloodHow used: To help diagnose liver cancer and follow response to treatment; to assess stage, prognosis, and response to treatment of germ cell tumorsBeta-2-microglobulin (B2M)Cancer types: Multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and some lymphomasTissue analyzed: Blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluidHow used: To determine prognosis and follow response to treatmentBeta-human chorionic gonadotropin (Beta-hCG)Cancer types: Choriocarcinoma and testicular cancerTissue analyzed: Urine or bloodHow used: To assess stage, prognosis, and response to treatment

http://www.scluae.com/cancer-screening

http://www.cancersafe.com/screening/index.asp

Questions to be asked

It’s important to talk openly with your cancer care team. Don’t

be afraid to ask any question that’s on your mind, no matter how minor it might seem to you. Here are some questions you

might ask. Do I have any elevated tumor markers? Which tumor markers are elevated?

What does this mean for me? Are there other health problems or medicines that could affect

my tumor marker levels? Does the elevation in my tumor marker(s) change my

treatment? Will you use these markers to evaluate my treatment? If so,

what will you watch for? How often will the tumor markers be checked?

Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about a certain type of cancer or the tumor marker

Clinical-co-relate with Patient history,

investigations and GENETIC

PREDISPOSITION helps in better understanding of tumor marker application.

Take Home Message