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Tumor Markers in Gynecologic Malignancies

  • Chapter
Gynecologic Oncology

Part of the book series: Cancer Treatment and Research ((CTAR,volume 10))

Abstract

For practical purposes, a tumor marker can be defined as a substance which is selectively produced by a tumor and then released into the circulation in detectable amounts. An ideal marker is tumor-specific, i.e. produced only by tumor cells. Elevated serum levels of such a marker would, therefore, indicate the presence of a tumor and its absence following therapy would signify the lack of viable malignant cells. Unfortunately, no truly tumor-specific markers have been detected in gynecologic cancers. Rather, several nonspecific oncofetal and hormonal markers have been shown to be quantitatively increased both in the tumor tissue and sera of patients with gynecologic malignancies. Also, a small number of tumor-associated antigens have been described in ovarian and cervical cancers. Although elevated plasma and tumor concentrations of these biochemical markers have been confirmed by a number of investigators, there remains considerable skepticism concerning their usefullness in clinical medicine.

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Authors
  1. John R. van Nagell
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    C. Thomas Griffiths M.D.

  2. Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Arlan F. Fuller Jr. M.D.

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© 1983 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Boston

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van Nagell, J.R. (1983). Tumor Markers in Gynecologic Malignancies. In: Griffiths, C.T., Fuller, A.F. (eds) Gynecologic Oncology. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 10. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3852-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3852-9_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3854-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3852-9

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