KARKINIUM CANCER COUNCIL
"Because Every Life Deserves a Tomorrow"
KARKINIUM
CANCER COUNCIL
CANCER COUNCIL
"Because Every Life Deserves a Tomorrow"
"Because Every Life Deserves a Tomorrow"
"Because Every Life Deserves a Tomorrow"
Cancer markers, or tumor markers, are specific molecules (proteins, enzymes, antigens, hormones, or genetic materials) produced either:
These markers are found in blood, urine, tissue, or other body fluids, and they help in:
However, no single tumor marker is 100% specific or sensitive — meaning they can be elevated even in non-cancer conditions. Hence, they are used alongside imaging, biopsy, and histopathology, not as standalone diagnostic tools.
Source: Fetal liver cells and yolk sac during development. Normally disappears after birth; reappears in liver or germ cell tumors.
Main Cancers: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), germ cell tumors (especially non-seminomatous testicular cancer)
Other Conditions: Liver diseases (cirrhosis, hepatitis — mild increase)
Uses: Diagnostic marker for liver cancer; monitoring therapy and recurrence after surgery or chemotherapy; measured in pregnancy to detect fetal abnormalities.
Source: Embryonic gut tissue; normally absent after birth.
Main Cancers: Colorectal carcinoma (primary marker), pancreatic, gastric, breast, lung cancers
Other Conditions: Smoking, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease
Uses: Monitoring colorectal cancer recurrence, metastasis, and response to treatment. Not ideal for general population screening.
Source: Epithelial cells of the ovary and peritoneum.
Main Cancers: Ovarian epithelial carcinoma
Other Conditions: Menstruation, pregnancy, endometriosis, pelvic inflammation
Uses: Monitoring ovarian cancer treatment and recurrence. Sometimes used with HE4 and ROMA algorithm for accuracy.
Source: Mucin-like glycoproteins shed by breast epithelial tumor cells.
Main Cancer: Breast carcinoma (especially metastatic or recurrent)
Uses: Monitoring therapy in breast cancer. Rising levels may indicate recurrence or metastasis.
Source: Pancreatic and biliary ductal cells.
Main Cancer: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Other Cancers: Cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal, gastric, or liver cancers
Uses: Monitoring pancreatic cancer; not useful for screening due to non-specific elevation.
Source: Mucin-like glycoprotein TAG-72 found in gastrointestinal and ovarian tumors.
Main Cancers: Gastric carcinoma, ovarian mucinous tumors, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers.
Uses: Diagnostic and monitoring of stomach and ovarian cancers, often combined with CEA and CA 19-9.
Source: Prostate gland epithelial cells.
Main Cancer: Prostate adenocarcinoma
Other Conditions: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, urinary infection
Normal Range: < 4 ng/mL (normal); 4–10 ng/mL (borderline — may require biopsy)
Uses: Screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of prostate cancer; used with DRE; Free/Total PSA ratio differentiates benign vs malignant.
Source: Placental syncytiotrophoblasts (normally in pregnancy).
Main Cancers: Germ cell tumors (testicular or ovarian), choriocarcinoma, trophoblastic tumors
Other: Rarely lung, stomach, pancreas cancers
Uses: Marker for germ cell tumors and trophoblastic disease; used with AFP for testicular tumor classification.
Source: All cells; released during cell damage or high turnover.
Cancers: Lymphomas, leukemias, testicular cancer, melanoma
Uses: Non-specific marker for tumor burden; in lymphomas, high LDH indicates aggressive disease and poor prognosis.
Source: Parafollicular (C) cells of the thyroid gland.
Main Cancer: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), MEN Type 2 syndromes
Uses: Diagnostic and follow-up marker for MTC; detects recurrence after thyroid surgery.
Source: Thyroid follicular cells.
Main Cancers: Papillary and follicular thyroid cancers
Uses: Post-surgery surveillance; its presence indicates recurrence or metastasis.
Source: Neuroendocrine cells.
Main Cancers: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs): carcinoid, pheochromocytoma, pancreatic NETs, small cell lung carcinoma.
Uses: Diagnostic and prognostic marker for NETs; used with 5-HIAA (urine test) for serotonin-secreting tumors.
Source: All nucleated cells; part of MHC class I molecules.
Main Cancers: Multiple myeloma, CLL, lymphomas
Uses: Prognostic marker; correlates with tumor burden and kidney function.
Source: Cell membrane receptor involved in cell growth regulation.
Main Cancers: Breast carcinoma (20–25%), gastric and esophageal adenocarcinomas
Uses: Predicts response to targeted therapy (trastuzumab, pertuzumab); determines aggressiveness and treatment plan.
Function: Tumor suppressor genes involved in DNA repair.
Main Cancers: Breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic cancers
Uses: Genetic risk prediction and family screening; guides preventive and targeted therapy decisions (e.g., PARP inhibitors).
Examples:
These represent the next era of personalized cancer medicine — where treatment is tailored to the genetic fingerprint of each tumor.
| Marker | Main Cancer Type | Normal Range | Major Clinical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFP | Liver, Testicular | <10 ng/mL | Diagnosis & Monitoring |
| CEA | Colon, Lung, Breast | <3–5 ng/mL | Recurrence Monitoring |
| CA-125 | Ovarian | <35 U/mL | Monitoring Ovarian Cancer |
| CA 15-3 / 27-29 | Breast | <30 U/mL | Breast Cancer Follow-up |
| CA 19-9 | Pancreatic | <37 U/mL | Pancreatic Cancer Monitoring |
| PSA | Prostate | <4 ng/mL | Screening & Monitoring |
| β-hCG | Germ Cell | <5 IU/L | Testicular / Choriocarcinoma |
| LDH | Many | Variable | Tumor Burden Indicator |
| Calcitonin | Medullary Thyroid | <10 pg/mL | Diagnosis & Follow-up |
| Chromogranin A | Neuroendocrine | <100 ng/mL | NET Detection |
| β2-Microglobulin | Myeloma, Lymphoma | <2.5 mg/L | Prognostic Marker |
Tumor markers are the molecular footprints of cancer — guiding physicians through diagnosis, therapy, and recovery.
While they cannot replace biopsy or imaging, they provide powerful insights into how cancer behaves, responds, and evolves.
Modern oncology now integrates traditional tumor markers with genetic profiling to offer personalized and precise cancer care for every patient.
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