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Questions and Answers
What are tumor markers?
What are tumor markers?
- Proteins produced by the body in response to cancer growth
- Proteins produced by the cancer tissue itself
- Proteins that are detected in blood, urine, or tissue samples
- All of the above (correct)
Why are tumor markers not diagnostic for cancer?
Why are tumor markers not diagnostic for cancer?
- They are not specific for a particular type of cancer
- They may also be elevated in non-cancerous conditions (correct)
- They can only be measured by certain lab tools
- All of the above
What is a characteristic of an ideal tumor marker?
What is a characteristic of an ideal tumor marker?
- High sensitivity: Tumor marker should give positive result in all patients
- High specificity: Tumor marker should not present in healthy persons or present in small quantities (correct)
- Can be measured by any lab tool
- None of the above
What is one of the applications of tumor markers in clinical oncology?
What is one of the applications of tumor markers in clinical oncology?
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Why do some potential tumor markers cause great excitement at first but prove to be no more useful than markers already in use?
Why do some potential tumor markers cause great excitement at first but prove to be no more useful than markers already in use?
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Study Notes
Tumor Markers
- Tumor markers are substances produced by cancer cells or by the body in response to cancer
- They can be found in the blood, urine, or tissue of some patients with cancer
Limitations of Tumor Markers
- Tumor markers are not diagnostic for cancer because they can also be elevated in benign conditions or other diseases
- A positive result does not necessarily mean cancer is present
Ideal Tumor Marker Characteristics
- An ideal tumor marker should be specific to cancer, sensitive, and easily measurable
Applications of Tumor Markers in Clinical Oncology
- Tumor markers can be used to monitor the effectiveness of cancer treatment, detect recurrence, and screen for cancer in high-risk individuals
Challenges in Developing New Tumor Markers
- Some potential tumor markers initially show promise but ultimately prove to be no more useful than existing markers due to various limitations, such as low sensitivity or specificity
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