[Introduction to the problem of markers in urologic oncology]

In the introduction the author explains the term marker and its synthesis. Demands on markers are as follows: 1. strict specificity, 2. correlation with the clinical stage, 3. prognostic information. The authors discusses in more detail the problem of human choriogonadotropin, alpha-fetoprotein, basic fetoprotein and specific beta-1-glycoprotein in germinal testicular tumours. The author mentions placental alkaline phosphatase, ferritin, lactic dehydrogenase in the above tumours, in carcinoma of the prostate prostatic specific antigen, in carcinoma of the bladder oncofoetal antigens.