Tumor marker
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. A tumor marker is a biomarker found in the blood, urine, or body tissues that can be elevated in cancer, among other tissue types. There are many different tumor markers, each indicative of a particular disease process, and they are used in oncology to help detect the presence of cancer. An elevated level of a tumor marker can indicate cancer; however, there can also be other causes of the elevation.
Tumor markers can be produced directly by the tumor or by non-tumor cells as a response to the presence of a tumor. Most tumor markers are tumor antigens, but not all tumor antigens can be used as tumor markers.[clarification needed][citation needed]
Although mammography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging scans, and tumor marker assays help in the staging and treatment of the cancer, they are usually not definitive diagnostic tests. The diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy.[1]
Contents
Classification
On the basis of chemical nature tumor markers can be divided into:
- Protein
- Antigen
- Enzyme
- Hormone
- Carbohydrate
Uses
Uses of tumor markers can broadly be classified as follows:[2]
- Screening for common cancers on a population basis. Example: elevated prostate specific antigen suggests prostate cancer.
- Monitoring of cancer survivors after treatment. Example: elevated AFP in a child previously treated for teratoma suggests relapse with endodermal sinus tumor.
- Diagnosis of specific tumor types, particularly in certain brain tumors and other instances where biopsy is not feasible.
As stated in the BMJ 2009, tumour markers should not generally be used for the purpose of diagnosis of cancers, as opposed to monitoring purposes in certain cancers, or in certain cases, screening purposes.[3] The use of these tests without understanding their utility has resulted in inappropriate use of tumour marker blood tests, which has also resulted in further inappropriate over-investigation for cancers.[4]
Techniques
Tumor markers can be detected by immunohistochemistry.
If repeated measurements of tumor marker are needed, some clinical testing laboratories provide a special reporting mechanism, a serial monitor, that links test results and other data pertaining to the person being tested. This requires a unique identifier for the person. In the United States commonly a Social Security number & Civil Personal Record (CPR) in Bahrain are used for this. One important function of this mechanism is to ensure that each test is performed using the same assay kit. For example, for AFP many different commercial assay kits, based on different technologies, are available. AFP measurements obtained using different assay kits are not comparable unless special calculations are performed.
Interlaboratory proficiency testing for tumor marker tests, and for clinical tests more generally, is an emerging field.[2] In the United States, New York state is prominent in advocating such research.[5]
Examples
Sources of inaccuracy
The high dose hook effect is an artifact of tumor marker immunoassay kits, that causes the reported quantity of tumor marker to be incorrectly low when the quantity is high. An undetected hook effect may cause delayed recognition of a tumor.[25] The hook effect can be detected by analyzing serial dilutions. The hook effect is absent if the reported quantities of tumor marker in a serial dilution are proportional to the dilution.
Multiple Tumor marker test
As with other diagnostic tests, tumor markers have a few test characteristics that influence their usability:
- Imperfect sensitivity, which would result in false negative tests. I.e. the test result is reassuring but cancer is present or has recurred, progressed...
- Imperfect specificity, resulting in false positive tests. I.e. no cancer is present but the test result indicates the opposite, resulting in needless further testing or anxiety.
As with other tests, predictive value (the chance that a positive or negative result represents the truth), depends strongly on the pre-test probability. For example, in a population where very few people in a population have active cancer, it might be unusual to be healthy and have a wrong test result - but it is far unusual still to have cancer, thus most people with positive test results do not have cancer. This is why many tumor markers are not, by and large, useful diagnostic tests, but more often useful to find the origin of confirmed carcinoma of unknown primary or to track the evolution of a confirmed tumor.
Multiple Tumor marker tests will give a more exact result; these are:[1]
- Colorectal: M2-PK, if M2-PK is not available, so can test CEA, CA 19-9, CA 125
- Breast: CEA, CA 15-3, Cyfra 21-1
- Ovary: CEA, CA 19-9, CA 125, AFP, BHCG
- Uterine: CEA, CA 19-9, CA 125, Cyfra 21-1, SCC
- Prostate: PSA, FPSA and ratio
- Testicle: AFP, BHCG
- Pancreas/Stomach: CEA, CA 19-9, CA 72-4
- Liver: CEA, AFP
- Oesophagus: CEA, Cyfra 21-1
- Thyroid: CEA, NSE
- Lung: CEA, CA 19-9, CA 125, NSE, Cyfra 21-1 (Sensitivity at 95 percent percentile for Cyfra 21-1 is 79 percent, while for SCC and CEA are 41 and 31 percent respectively)[26]
- Bladder: CEA, Cyfra 21-1, TPA
See also
References
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Further reading
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External links
- Tumor Markers, Biological at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
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- ↑ Promoting Safe and Effective Genetic Testing in the United States genome.gov
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 6.26 6.27 6.28 6.29 6.30 6.31 6.32 Page 746 in: Title Manual of clinical oncology Spiral manual Manual of Clinical Oncology Lippincott Manual Series Authors Dennis Albert Casciato, Mary C. Territo Editors Dennis Albert Casciato, Mary C. Territo Contributor Mary C. Territo Edition 6, illustrated Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008 ISBN 0-7817-6884-5, ISBN 978-0-7817-6884-9
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- ↑ gpnotebook.co.uk > ca-19-9 Retrieved November 2011
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