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What Are Tumor Markers and How Are They Used in Cancer Diagnosis?
By Raveena M Prakash
When it comes to diagnosing and monitoring cancer in suspected patients, doctors often use many methods, which include performing blood tests, imaging scans, and tumor marker tests. While performing tumor marker tests helps to identify substances that help to provide more clues to the healthcare team. It helps to identify the cancer cells, their types, and how they respond to the treatments. Performing these tests alone won't help to confirm the cancer.
In this blog, we’ll explore more about tumor markers and their types, how these are used in the cancer diagnosis, and their limitations.
What are tumor markers?
Tumor markers are a type of substance, often referred to as a protein, usually produced by the cancer cells. In some cases, these proteins are produced by the body in response to cancer. These proteins are often found in the blood, urine, or tissues of some patients with cancer.
But all cancers won’t produce these cancer markers, and an increased level of these proteins won’t always mean you have cancer. In some cases, the non-cancerous conditions can also cause the tumor marker level in the body. That’s why the tumor marker test cannot alone diagnose cancer.
Types of tumor markers?
There are different types of tumor markers that test for many different types of cancer. Here are some common types of tumour markers.
These may include:
- AFP: Healthcare providers check a sample of blood to diagnose liver cancer, testicular cancer and other germ cell tumors.
- BCL2 gene rearrangement: An healthcare provider often checks a sample of blood to detect any types of tumors or tumors in the bone marrow and diagnose leukemia and lymphoma in suspected patients.
- BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations: A healthcare practitioner might collect a sample of blood to diagnose the presence of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
- CA 19-9: In this test, a healthcare practitioner collects a sample of blood to diagnose pancreas cancer, gallbladder, bile duct and stomach cancers in suspected patients.
- Carcinoembroyonic antigen (CEA): To perform these tests, healthcare providers use a sample of blood to detect the presence of colon cancer and its spread in other organs as well.
- FIbrin/fibrinogen: In these tests, a healthcare practitioner uses a sample of urine to detect any substances that indicate the presence of bladder cancer.
- Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH): An healthcare provider performs these tests to analyse or stage leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, neuroblastoma and germ cell tumors.
- Prostate- specific antigen: Generally, a healthcare professional performs these tests to diagnose prostate cancer, it is also performed to analyse the success of treatment or check the recurrence of cancer in cancer patients.
- Thyroglobulin: A healthcare professional performs these tests using a sample of blood in the patient. They usually perform these tests to check whether the cancer has recurred after the treatment or how the treatment is affecting the cancer.
- UGT1A1*28 Variant homozygosity: In these tests, a healthcare practitioner often collects a sample of cheek cells or blood to check the toxicity level or side effects of irinotecan chemotherapy drug in colorectal cancer patients.
How tumor markers are used in cancer diagnosis?
Tumor markers are used in the cancer diagnosis and its care. Here’s how these markers are used in the diagnostic procedure.
These may include:
- Cancer screening: In some rare cases, the presence of these proteins are considered a vital part, especially for people with high risk groups. For example: Performing PSA tests may be used for an early diagnosis of prostate cancer in some patients.
- Diagnosis support: When any symptom or the results of imaging tests suggests the signs of cancer, then performing tumor marker tests helps to determine the cancer diagnosis. The results of tumor marker tests are often combined with biopsies, imaging scans, and other lab results.
- Determining the type of cancer: Certain types of tumor markers are connected to specific types of cancers. This helps to pinpoint the origin of the tumor.
- Monitoring the treatment: Most of the doctors track the tumor marker levels during the treatment. The decrease in the level of these proteins indicate that the treatment is working, while an increase might indicate resistance or recurrence of cancer.
- Detecting recurrence: After completing the cancer treatment, regular tumor marker testing can help to spot the recurrence before any major symptoms appear.
What are the limitations of Tumor markers?
The tumor markers are valuable for confirming cancer in suspected patients. Still they have some limitations to confirm cancer in suspected patients.
These may include:
- Lack of specificity: The high levels of these substances can often cause non-cancerous conditions such as inflammation or inflammation.
- False negatives: In some cancers, they won’t produce any types of tumor markers.
- Variability: The marker levels can often fluctuate for reasons such as the cancer types.
In most cases of cancer diagnosis, a tumor marker's presence alone won’t confirm the cancer. Some other diagnostic tests are also considered to confirm the presence of cancer in suspected patients.
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Tumor markers are an essential part of the cancer screening and diagnosis. Performing these helps doctors to analyze and determine, monitor, and manage the cancer more effectively. These tests can be empowering when combined with tests such as imaging, biopsies, and other medical tests.
At Oncare, we offer premium-quality cancer treatments including advanced cancer surgeries at affordable price ranges with an experienced cancer specialist consultation.
If you or any loved ones of yours are diagnosed with cancer, then visit Oncare Cancer Center and book an appointment with our cancer specialist. Get an estimated cost of your cancer treatment today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Tumor markers in combination with other components of the tests often help to diagnose and treat certain types of cancer.
These tumor markers can often indicate the following conditions, these may include:
- It highlights the presence of certain types of cancer
- It helps the oncologist to plan the treatment
- It helps to check whether the current treatment is working
- It helps to predict the chance of recovery in suspected patients
- It helps to monitor the recurrence of cancer
Here are the most common:
- AFP
- BCL2 Gene rearrangement
- BRCA1 and BRCA2 Gene mutations
- CA 19-9
- Carcinoembroyonic antigen (CEA)
- Fibrin/ fibrinogen
- Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
- Prostate- specific antigen
- Thyroglobulin
- UGT1A1*28 variant homozygosity
This often depends on the type of cancer your healthcare provider tests for. The tumor marker tests usually require one of the following:
These may include:
- Blood tests
- Saliva tests
- Urinalysis
- Stool tests
- Biopsy
There are some non-cancerous conditions that can cause high tumor marker results. Here are some of the most notable include:
- Anemia
- Thyroid disease
- Ovarian cysts
- Kidney disease
- Hepatitis
- Sarcoidosis
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