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Tumor markers

Analysis of statistics in recent years testifies to increase the incidence of the world population by various forms of cancer (cancer). This is due to increasing life expectancy of modern man.

Among the causes of cancer deaths now entered the second after cardiovascular disease.
Reduced morbidity and mortality from malignant neoplasms (cancer) oncologists associated with broad adoption of preventive measures and early diagnosis. In 50% of cancer patients revealed conventional cancer diagnostic methods is generalized.

Detection of malignant tumors in the early stages of their development allows for successful treatment in 90% of patients.
For early diagnosis, monitoring treatment of malignant tumors and early detection of metastasis in oncology are widely used definition of tumor markers.

The term "tumor markers" or "tumor markers" encompasses a wide range of biological substances with different characteristics (onkofetalnye and onkoplatsentarnye antigens, tumor-associated antigens, enzymes, hormones, products of oncogenes, plasma proteins, metabolites, biologically active peptides, etc.), but connection pool with a malignant process, which makes possible their use in diagnosis, screening, monitoring and prognosis of the disease in patients with malignant tumors.

Diagnostic value of a specific tumor marker (tumor marker) is dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of detection of the tumor with its use, as well as the prevalence in the population. "Ideal" oncomarker should be organospetsifichnym, its concentration should correlate with tumor size, stage of disease, prevalence of the process, prognosis and treatment efficacy.

General characteristic of tumor markers (tumor markers):

the primary use of tumor markers (tumor markers) is to assess the effectiveness of treatment, monitoring and prognosis of the disease, early detection of recurrence and metastasis
some tumor markers (tumor markers) have been successfully used for differential diagnosis of the unknown primary tumor site (eg, NSE in lung cancer, CA 15.3 in breast cancer)
speed reduction markers (tumor marker) after surgery or radiotherapy or chemotherapy done can serve as the first sign of a successful operation and a marker of prognosis and therapy
please be aware that there is no tumor marker (tumor marker) with 100% specificity with respect to the tumor and "normal" level of tumor marker does not exclude the presence of malignancy or recurrence
because of the heterogeneity of tumors is often advisable to use several different markers (tumor markers), monitoring of tumor markers (tumor markers) is also used to monitor the effectiveness of radio-and chemotherapy of tumors

In order to use test (oncomarker) could provide the highest possible accuracy of the diagnosis of cancer, it must meet at least four requirements:

Result Analysis (oncomarker) should be interpreted individually, without reference to some kind of average value
Test Result (oncomarker) should quantitatively reflect changes in the clinical course of malignant process - decline in tumor regression and enhanced with the progression of the disease
Test Result (oncomarker) should identify subclinical during the malignant process and, thus, confirming the achievement of complete remission or diagnose a relapse before the clinical manifestations
Test (oncomarker) should be so reliable that, based on results indicating a relapse, the clinician could take action even in the absence of cytological confirmation

Brief description of some tumor markers (tumor markers), the most commonly used in medical diagnosis, you can explore the links below:


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