A tumor marker is a substance, often a protein, that can be measured in blood, other fluids, or tissue and may be raised when a cancer is present. Markers can help support a diagnosis, track how a disease responds to treatment, or watch for return, but they are rarely conclusive on their own. In mesothelioma, blood markers such as mesothelin are the best known.
Origin
The concept developed through the 20th century as scientists identified substances shed by tumors. Blood tests for markers such as CEA and PSA became common, and mesothelioma-related markers like soluble mesothelin were studied in the 2000s.
Significance in Asbestos Context
For mesothelioma patients, tumor markers are a supporting tool rather than a stand-alone test. Soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP), and markers such as fibulin-3 and osteopontin, can be elevated in mesothelioma and are sometimes tracked to gauge response to treatment. A normal level does not rule the disease out, and diagnosis still rests on imaging and biopsy. Ask your doctor which markers, if any, are being followed in your case and what a change would mean. Recorded marker trends can also become part of the medical record documenting your disease course.
Example Sentence
His care team tracked the mesothelin tumor marker over several months to see whether the chemotherapy was working.
Related Terms
Mesothelin, Biopsy, Immunohistochemistry, Biomarker, Pleural Fluid Analysis, Osteopontin
Notes
- Ask which specific markers are being measured and whether they are being used for monitoring rather than diagnosis.
- A normal tumor marker does not exclude mesothelioma; biopsy remains the definitive test, so do not let a normal result end the workup.
- Keep serial marker results with their dates; trends over time are more meaningful than a single value.
In the research library
55 studies in our medical research library mention Tumor Marker in the title or abstract. Among the most cited:
- Sensitive and specific new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for N-ERC/mesothelin increases its potential as a useful serum tumor marker for mesotheliomaK. Shiomi, Y. Hagiwara, K. Sonoue, et al, 2008 · Clinical Cancer Research · cited 57 times
- Megakaryocyte potentiating factor as a tumor marker of malignant pleural mesothelioma: evaluation in comparison with mesothelinK. Iwahori, T. Osaki, S. Serada, et al, 2008 · Lung Cancer · cited 43 times
- Molecular tumor markers for asbestos-related mesothelioma: serum diagnostic markersM. Maeda, O. Hino, 2006 · Pathology International · cited 41 times
- Performance of biomarkers SMRP, CA125, and CYFRA 21-1 as potential tumor markers for malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer in a cohort of workers formerly exposed to asbestosM. Gube, D. Taeger, D.G. Weber, et al, 2011 · Archives of Toxicology · cited 37 times
- Immunocytology in malignant pleural mesothelioma. Expression of tumor markers and distribution of lymphocyte subsetsJ. Guzman, K.J. Bross, G. Würtemberger, et al, 1989 · Chest · cited 26 times
The journals that publish most on it: Curēus (3), World Journal of Clinical Cases (2), Lung Cancer (2).
Category: Diagnostic Tools & Biomarkers · All Lexicon terms A–Z
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