Tumor Markers

Tumor markers are substances produced by cancer cells or other cells of the body in response to cancer or certain (non – cancerous) benign conditions. Most tumor markers are produced by both normal and cancerous cells; however, they occur at higher concentrations in cancerous diseases.

Many different tumor markers have been characterized and used in the medical field. Some are associated with a single type of cancer, while others are associated with two or more types of cancer. They are used to detect, diagnose and monitor some types of cancer.