tumour markers

tumour markers

Substances in the blood or urine that indicate, often by abnormal levels, the presence of a malignant tumour in the body. They include proteins such as thyroglobulin and immunoglobulins; glycoproteins such as the prostate-specific antigen (PSI) and CA-125; hormonal peptides such as beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin and adrenocorticotrophic hormone; enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase and prostatic acid phosphatase; tumour-associated carbohydrate antigens; neuromediators such as catecholamines; oncogenes; oncofetal antigens such as alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen; and cytogenic markers such as the Philadelphia chromosome.