title: Markers of minimal residual disease.
abstract: Current methods employing tumour markers to detect small amounts of residual disease are reviewed with respect to human germ cell, colorectal and breast neoplasms. It is concluded that the assay of tumour markers in body fluids has only limited clinical value. Alternative approaches, such as are afforded by radioimmunodetection and immunocytochemistry, are presented and critically appraised.
mesh_terms: D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins