Regular and cancerous cells make tumor markers in response to cancerous (or noncancerous) conditions. Common tumor markers are:
- proteins
- genes, gene mutations, gene products
- hormones
- enzymes
- glycoproteins or mucins
These markers may be present in your:
- tissues
- tumors
- stool
- body fluids, including urine and blood
Relating to cancer care, health professionals may use
- diagnosis
- staging and type
- outlook
- potentially effective treatments
- how well you’re responding to treatment
- whether cancer is recurrent (has returned)
However, tumor marker tests aren’t the only tools they’ll use in cancer care. Other testing techniques will help provide a more comprehensive look at your type of cancer.
Outside the context of cancer, tumor markers
Disadvantages of using tumor markers alone
- Regular cells may produce tumor markers, even in noncancerous conditions.
- False negatives are possible, as not everyone will show elevated levels of tumor markers.
- Everyone produces different levels of tumor markers, which makes it difficult to determine diagnostic cut-off values.
- Laboratory testing techniques may vary, which may impact the reliability of your sample’s results.
Multiple types of cancer may have common tumor markers,
Not every type of cancer, however, will have a tumor marker. And not everyone with cancer, including those listed above, will have high levels of the tumor marker. Some people with cancer may have typical levels.
If you do have elevated levels of a certain tumor marker, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer. Speak with your doctor about whether a tumor marker test may be right for you.
Depending on the type of tumor marker your doctor wants to investigate, they may ask for a sample of your blood, urine, stool, tumor tissue, or a different type of sample.
The results of a tumor marker test may help your doctor plan for possible treatments and therapies or assess your response to a current treatment.