Tumor markers - A bird's eye view

Tumor markers cannot be construed as primary modalities for the diagnosis of oral cancer. Their main utility in clinical medicine has been a laboratory test to support the diagnosis. A host of tumor markers have been described, and new ones appear every year. New investigative techniques at the cellular and molecular level show great promise at defining potentially malignant lesions but further prospective, in-depth studies are required to determine their practical usefulness. Tumor markers are reliable predominately in monitoring the treatment response, as well as in early detection of disease recurrence (prior to development of clinically notable signs). Due to their incompetence, tumor markers' determinations can be only exceptionally applied as screening methods and not as the sole diagnostic tool; however, in combination with other diagnostic methods, they play an important role in the diagnostic process and in treatment planning. Besides, by combining various tumor markers we can achieve a greater specificity and sensitivity in the follow-up of one type of malignancy.