Non-clinical sciences/Pathology · Diagnostics

Tumour markers

What it means

Used mainly to MONITOR (not screen): PSA prostate; AFP HCC & yolk-sac germ-cell (+ antenatal NTDs); CA 125 ovarian; CA 19-9 pancreatic; CEA colorectal; β-hCG trophoblastic/germ-cell; calcitonin medullary thyroid. Most are non-specific (rise in benign disease) so they are not screening tests.

Worked example

CEA tracks colorectal-cancer recurrence after resection; it is not used to screen the general population.

In the exam

After colorectal-cancer resection a serum marker is trended to detect recurrence, though it is too non-specific to screen with.

What settles it

Tumour markers MONITOR known disease; the match set tests marker↔cancer pairing (e.g. CA 19-9→pancreas).

Classically confused with

Carcinogens

Source: StatPearls — Tumour markers