Tumour markers: An overview

Abstract

Tumor Markers comprise a wide spectrum of biomacromolecules synthesized in excess concentration by a wide variety of neoplastic cells. The markers could be endogenous products of highly active metabolic malignant cells or the products of newly switched on genes, which remained unexprssed in early life or newly acquired antigens at cellular and sub-cellular levels. The appearance of tumor marker and their concentration are related to the genesis and growth of malignant tumors in patients. An ideal tumor marker should be highly sensitive, specific, reliable with high prognostic value, organ specificity and it should correlate with tumor stages. However, none of the tumor markers reported to date has all these characteristics. Inspite of these limitations, many tumor markers have shown excellent clinical relevance in monitoring efficacy of different modes of therapies during entire course of illness in cancer patients. Additionally, determination of markers also helps in early detection of cancer recurrence and in prognostication.