Most tumor markers are proteins, but DNA changes such as mutations and other alterations may also be used as biomarkers or tumor markers. A biomarker can be found circulating in bodily fluids or in a tumor tissue sample to help your healthcare provider learn more about your cancer and determine treatment options.Tumor marker results aren’t usually used alone for diagnosis but can provide clues when combined with clinical symptoms and imaging studies.
National Cancer Institute
Purpose of Tumor Marker Tests
There are a number of reasons why a tumor marker test may be ordered:
Cyst vs. Tumor: What Are the Differences?
Tumor Marker Measurements
Your healthcare provider will take a sample of your bodily fluid or tumor tissue and send it to the laboratory to measure the level of the tumor marker.With protein tumor markers, tests are most often done on blood, but they may also be performed on urine, stool, cerebrospinal fluid, peritoneal fluid (abdominal fluid), or pleural fluid. With genetic biomarkers, tests may be done on tumor tissues or via a blood test that looks for circulating tumor cell DNA (liquid biopsy).
These tests are often most valuable when repeated to look at the progress of a tumor over time.If your lab test is abnormal, your healthcare provider may recommend more tests or treatments.Tumor markers should always be used along with other findings, such as biopsies and imaging studies, to evaluate the progress of a cancer.
Limitations
There are a number of limitations in using tumor markers to monitor cancer. Some of these include:
Risks and Contraindications
The risk of tumor marker tests are primarily that of the procedure used to obtain fluid or tissue to test, whether a blood draw, thoracentesis to obtain pleural fluid, or biopsy to obtain a tissue sample.
If used without considering other findings, tumor markers could provide inaccurate information, either false positives or false negatives, leading to less than optimal treatment.
Interpreting Results
Common Tumor Markers
Examples ofblood tumor markersinclude:
Tissue biomarkersinclude:
Examples ofgenetic biomarkersinclude:
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Tumor Markers.Awkar N, Amireh S, Rai S, Shaaban H, Guron G, Maroules M.Association between Level of Tumor Markers and Development of VTE in Patients with Pancreatic, Colorectal and Ovarian Ca: Retrospective Case- Control Study in Two Community Hospitals. Pathology & Oncology Research. 2017;24(2):283-287. doi:10.1007/s12253-017-0239-xCanadian Cancer Society.Tumour markers.Canadian Cancer Society.Cancer antigen 125 (CA125).MedlinePlus.Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) Tumor Marker Test.MedlinePlus.Beta 2 Microglobulin (B2M) Tumor Marker Test.Singh J, Swaminathan U, Sharada P, Alur JB, Chowdhury P, Mrinal U.Estimation of expression of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels through progression of disease from normal to epithelial dysplasia to malignancy.J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2019 Jan-Apr;23(1):108-113. doi:10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_271_18.MedlinePlus.CEA blood test.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Lactate Dehyrogenase (LDH) Test.Mayo Clinic Laboratories.Test ID: NSE.Moyer V.Screening for Prostate Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Annals of Internal Medicine.U.S. National Library of Medicine.PDL1 (Immunotherapy) Tests. MedlinePlus.Van Poznak C, Somerfield MR, Bast RC, et al.Use of biomarkers to guide decisions on systemic therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline.J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(24):2695-2704. doi:10.1200/JCO.2015.61.1459National Cancer Institute.Philadelphia chromosome. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.Additional ReadingAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology.Biomarkers to Guide Treatment for Early-Stage Breast Cancer.National Cancer Institute.Tumor Modules.U.S. National Library of Medicine.5-HIAA urine test.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Tumor Markers.Awkar N, Amireh S, Rai S, Shaaban H, Guron G, Maroules M.Association between Level of Tumor Markers and Development of VTE in Patients with Pancreatic, Colorectal and Ovarian Ca: Retrospective Case- Control Study in Two Community Hospitals. Pathology & Oncology Research. 2017;24(2):283-287. doi:10.1007/s12253-017-0239-xCanadian Cancer Society.Tumour markers.Canadian Cancer Society.Cancer antigen 125 (CA125).MedlinePlus.Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) Tumor Marker Test.MedlinePlus.Beta 2 Microglobulin (B2M) Tumor Marker Test.Singh J, Swaminathan U, Sharada P, Alur JB, Chowdhury P, Mrinal U.Estimation of expression of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels through progression of disease from normal to epithelial dysplasia to malignancy.J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2019 Jan-Apr;23(1):108-113. doi:10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_271_18.MedlinePlus.CEA blood test.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Lactate Dehyrogenase (LDH) Test.Mayo Clinic Laboratories.Test ID: NSE.Moyer V.Screening for Prostate Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Annals of Internal Medicine.U.S. National Library of Medicine.PDL1 (Immunotherapy) Tests. MedlinePlus.Van Poznak C, Somerfield MR, Bast RC, et al.Use of biomarkers to guide decisions on systemic therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline.J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(24):2695-2704. doi:10.1200/JCO.2015.61.1459National Cancer Institute.Philadelphia chromosome. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.Additional ReadingAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology.Biomarkers to Guide Treatment for Early-Stage Breast Cancer.National Cancer Institute.Tumor Modules.U.S. National Library of Medicine.5-HIAA urine test.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Tumor Markers.Awkar N, Amireh S, Rai S, Shaaban H, Guron G, Maroules M.Association between Level of Tumor Markers and Development of VTE in Patients with Pancreatic, Colorectal and Ovarian Ca: Retrospective Case- Control Study in Two Community Hospitals. Pathology & Oncology Research. 2017;24(2):283-287. doi:10.1007/s12253-017-0239-xCanadian Cancer Society.Tumour markers.Canadian Cancer Society.Cancer antigen 125 (CA125).MedlinePlus.Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) Tumor Marker Test.MedlinePlus.Beta 2 Microglobulin (B2M) Tumor Marker Test.Singh J, Swaminathan U, Sharada P, Alur JB, Chowdhury P, Mrinal U.Estimation of expression of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels through progression of disease from normal to epithelial dysplasia to malignancy.J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2019 Jan-Apr;23(1):108-113. doi:10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_271_18.MedlinePlus.CEA blood test.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Lactate Dehyrogenase (LDH) Test.Mayo Clinic Laboratories.Test ID: NSE.Moyer V.Screening for Prostate Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Annals of Internal Medicine.U.S. National Library of Medicine.PDL1 (Immunotherapy) Tests. MedlinePlus.Van Poznak C, Somerfield MR, Bast RC, et al.Use of biomarkers to guide decisions on systemic therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline.J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(24):2695-2704. doi:10.1200/JCO.2015.61.1459National Cancer Institute.Philadelphia chromosome. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.
National Cancer Institute.Tumor Markers.
Awkar N, Amireh S, Rai S, Shaaban H, Guron G, Maroules M.Association between Level of Tumor Markers and Development of VTE in Patients with Pancreatic, Colorectal and Ovarian Ca: Retrospective Case- Control Study in Two Community Hospitals. Pathology & Oncology Research. 2017;24(2):283-287. doi:10.1007/s12253-017-0239-x
Canadian Cancer Society.Tumour markers.
Canadian Cancer Society.Cancer antigen 125 (CA125).
MedlinePlus.Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) Tumor Marker Test.
MedlinePlus.Beta 2 Microglobulin (B2M) Tumor Marker Test.
Singh J, Swaminathan U, Sharada P, Alur JB, Chowdhury P, Mrinal U.Estimation of expression of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels through progression of disease from normal to epithelial dysplasia to malignancy.J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2019 Jan-Apr;23(1):108-113. doi:10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_271_18.
MedlinePlus.CEA blood test.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Lactate Dehyrogenase (LDH) Test.
Mayo Clinic Laboratories.Test ID: NSE.
Moyer V.Screening for Prostate Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Annals of Internal Medicine.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.PDL1 (Immunotherapy) Tests. MedlinePlus.
Van Poznak C, Somerfield MR, Bast RC, et al.Use of biomarkers to guide decisions on systemic therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline.J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(24):2695-2704. doi:10.1200/JCO.2015.61.1459
National Cancer Institute.Philadelphia chromosome. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.
American Society of Clinical Oncology.Biomarkers to Guide Treatment for Early-Stage Breast Cancer.National Cancer Institute.Tumor Modules.U.S. National Library of Medicine.5-HIAA urine test.
American Society of Clinical Oncology.Biomarkers to Guide Treatment for Early-Stage Breast Cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Tumor Modules.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.5-HIAA urine test.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
