Many cancers are associated with the abnormal production of enzymes, proteins and hormones, which can be measured in plasma or serum, these are called tumor markers.
![Tumor Markers Example Tumor Markers Example](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3ZPP3TStlkks9RvQN3NOkyLcPBrNv829sKxQ-WCbz8XiZbIli2j-dHCzqFf022hMVSTd2Bk-_Xn4Ps2zl78IJpGqqElo5mDNso1A1VI75r7aTVmDrzasJIJV5AGTzu6b5eVQJRyxyq2o/?imgmax=800)
Applications of Tumor markers
Marker
|
Associated Cancer
|
Prostatic acid phosphatase
(PAP)
|
Prostate
|
Calcitonis (CT)
|
Thyroid
(Medullary carcinoma)
|
Human chronin gonadotropin
|
Germ cells, Trophoblast
|
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
|
Colon,
Lung, Pancreas, Breast
|
Alfa fetoprotein (AFP)
|
Liver, Germ cells
|
- Detection: Screeing in asymptomatic persons.
- Diagnosis: Differentiating malignant from benign conditions.
- Monitoring: Predicting effect of therapy and detecting recurrent cancer.
- Classification: Choosing therapy and predicting tumour behavior (prognosis).
- Stagging: Defining extent of diseases.
- Localization: Nuclear scanning of injected radioactive antibodies.
- Therapy: Cytotoxic agents directed to marker containing cells.