Tumor markers in clinical practice: General principles and guidelines

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biochemistry
• Clinical Pathology

Background:

• Tumor markers are increasingly utilized across the cancer care continuum.
• Their effective use requires understanding pathophysiology, detection methods, and interpretation of results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the multifaceted role of tumor markers in oncology.
• To highlight the importance of judicious application and understanding limitations.

Main Methods:

• Review of current clinical applications and evidence for tumor markers.
• Discussion of detection techniques and interpretation of serum levels.

Main Results:

• Tumor markers serve in screening, diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring disease recurrence.
• Nonspecificity limits their use as standalone diagnostic tools.
• Monitoring serum levels can detect recurrence before clinical or radiological evidence.

Conclusions:

• Tumor markers are valuable adjuncts, not definitive diagnostic tools.
• Proper interpretation considering sensitivity, specificity, and prevalence is essential.
• Monitoring trends in serum levels is a key application for detecting recurrence.