Cancer markers are specific molecules that arise in our body. Their increased concentration may indicate an ongoing neoplastic process. Cancer markers, also known as cancer indicators or markers, help diagnose and monitor your disease. In some cases, tumor markers enable early diagnosis of cancer.
Tumor markersare particles that circulate in the blood. The mere presence ofmarkersdoes not mean a disease as long as their blood level does not exceed the normal level. Increased levels of tumor markers also do not necessarily mean cancer. Higher concentration of some markers is associated with inflammatory diseases, e.g. diseases of the liver, kidneys or pancreas. However, an increase inof tumor markersshould always prompt additional testing to rule out cancer.
What are tumor markers
Cancer markers take the form of various substances: enzymes, antigens, proteins or hormones. Different tumors produce different markers. Sometimes one tumor secretes several of them, sometimes one marker can be characteristic of several forms of cancer, eg CA 19.9 (carcinoma antigen 19.9) can mean both pancreatic and stomach cancer. However, there are tumor markers that clearly indicate a specific cancer.
Tumor markers helpful in cancer prevention
It is known that cancer detected at a very early stage is almost 100% curable. That is why everything that is a very early signal of the onset of the neoplastic process counts. In a few cases, this role may be played by tumor markers.
- PSA - prostate specific antigen. The level of this antigen in the blood should be measured by men over 40, especially those with even a slight enlargement of the prostate gland. Increasing the level of this antigen almost clearly indicates prostate cancer.
- Calcitonin and thyroglobulin. Calcitonin is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland, thyroglobulin is a hormone protein also produced by the thyroid gland. These compounds are markers of thyroid neoplasms. Their level should be monitored by people with diagnosed benign thyroid nodules.
- AFP or alpha-fetoprotein is a glycoprotein produced byfetal cells. Its level is increased in pregnant women and newborns. In other people, increased levels of AFP are likely to mean primary liver cancer (not due to metastasis of another tumor) of the liver.
- AFP and hCG. Increased levels of AFP and hCG, i.e. chorionic gonadotrophin, are characteristic of the germ cell cancer of the testicle or ovary.
Monitoring tumor markers in cancer treatment
Tumor markers play an important role in the treatment of neoplastic disease. Doctors can find out about the course of therapy by marking changes in the levels of specific markers. For example, during chemotherapy or radiotherapy for various forms of cancer, the levels of tumor markers may rise sharply. And it does not mean that the disease is exacerbated. On the contrary, it may be a signal of tumor lysis after the influence of therapy. Cancer tumors, although they produce markers, do not always release them into the blood. As the tumor breaks down, these substances are ejected rapidly. After the treatment is completed, the level of markers is still monitored, which, together with other tests, allows to assess the he alth of patients.