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.
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.