title: Methodological issues in the use of tumour markers in cancer epidemiology.
abstract: In this chapter, we review major methodological and practical issues associated with the use of tumour markers. At this stage of development, studies with a combination of tumour, susceptibility and exposure markers are needed to illustrate the link between exposure and biological response and to assess the interactive effects of tumour susceptibility markers in this process. Several practical issues related to the application of tumour markers are discussed, including banking of tumour tissue, setting a laboratory strategy and performing etiological heterogeneity analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Z F
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cordon-Cardo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rothman
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor