Tumour Markers

The diagnosis of asymptomatic primary cancer still seems a distant prospect. Once the diagnosis of cancer has been established the clinician may require information that can be grouped under three headings: (1) Better indications of the probability of recurrence or metastases in patients treated by curative procedures. (2) Identification, as soon as possible, of recurrence or metastases. (3) To be able to follow the evolution of residual cancer remaining after treatment which cannot be detected clinically. It is hoped that this information, which may come in part from biochemical measurements, will enable the clinician to take appropriate action earlier than when routine clinical examination alone is used. This places heavy demands on biochemists, as firm base-line data will have to be established.