Abstract

This chapter describes the role of the clinical biochemistry service in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with cancer, the contribution of cancer-specific investigations, and the unique elements of service provision compared with those seen in nonspecialist units. Routine biochemical tests can give clues as to the presence of cancer, but further investigations are required to confirm the diagnosis. The ideal tumour marker could be used in all aspects of cancer management, from screening and diagnosis to monitoring recurrence, but unfortunately the ideal tumour marker does not exist. Nevertheless, different tumour markers have been developed and these are useful in certain types of cancer. Fields such as molecular diagnostics and pharmacogenomics are increasingly being used to improve cancer diagnosis and tailor treatment to the individual patient.

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