tumour marker

Tumor markers are substances produced by tumor cells or by the body in response to a tumor, which can be detected and measured in biological fluids or tissues. These markers serve as indicators of a disease state, helping to diagnose cancer, monitor treatment effectiveness, and detect recurrence.12

While not all tumor markers are specific to a single disease, some are routinely used for specific cancers. For example, CA 125 is associated with ovarian cancer, and PSA is used for prostate cancer. The development of molecular evaluation techniques, such as DNA sequencing and proteomics, has significantly advanced the ability to identify and utilize tumor markers for personalized medicine, guiding treatment decisions based on the specific molecular defects within a tumor.21