[Tumor marker analyses--valuable tools if used correctly].
The tumour marker assays in routine use today are not cancer-specific. Most markers are normal products of epithelial tissues, usually excreted from the intact organ. The infiltrating malignant growth allows release directly into lymph and blood, where the product is measured as a "tumour marker". Many tumour markers are glycoproteins depending on the liver function for their catabolism. These mechanisms explain the slight to moderate increases in tumour marker values found in various non-malignant diseases. Therefore, in general, such assays are of no use for screening healthy populations, and a normal value does not exclude cancer. Their main use is in the primary staging of patients known to have cancer, to evaluate the completeness of primary surgery, to follow-up patients for early detection of relapses, and to monitor the effect of cytotoxic or radiation therapy of advanced disease. In all these applications, good clinical judgement is the necessary basis for using these assays.
Børmer
O P
OP
Sentrallaboratoriet, Det Norske Radiumhospital, Oslo.
Paus
E
E
Nustad
K
K
Theodorsen
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L
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
Tumormarkøranalyser--nyttig verktøy ved riktig bruk.