Table 1.
Selection of commonly used blood molecular and protein biomarkers for the management (diagnosis, monitoring recurrence/detecting metastatic spread, and selection of suitable treatment/monitoring treatment response) of cancers in clinical practice.
| Type of cancer | Tumour biomarkers | Type of test | Additional biomarkers | Type of test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lung cancer | NSE, TPA, and CEA (large-cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma) CEA, TPA (adenocarcinoma) SCC, TPA (squamous cell carcinoma) |
Immunoassay, ELISA, RIA, and magnetic-bead based chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay | Ferritin | Immunoassay, ELISA, and RIA |
| CEA | ||||
|
| ||||
| Breast cancer, sporadic | CA 15-3, CA 27-29, MCA, and CEA | Immunoassay, ELISA | TPA, B2M, Ki-67 (MIB-1), CA 19-9, ER, PR, and cytochrome P450 2D6 genotype | Immunoassay, PCR-based assay for cytochrome P450 |
| HER2* | Immunoassay, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) | |||
|
| ||||
| Breast cancer, hereditary | BRCA1, BRCA2 | DNA sequence analysis, RT-PCR, and post-PCR curve melting analysis | The same as for sporadic breast cancer for monitoring | Immunoassay |
|
| ||||
| Prostate cancer | PSA, PAP | Immunoassay, ELISA | CEA, TPA | Immunoassay |
|
| ||||
| Gastric cancer, sporadic |
CA 19-9, CA 125, and CEA HER2* |
Immunoassay, ELISA | TPA, ferritin, and gastrin | Immunoassay |
| Immunoassay, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) | ||||
|
| ||||
| Colorectal cancer, hereditary | MSI testing (BAT25, BAT26, NR-21, NR-24, and MONO-27), APC, AXIN2, BMPR1A, CDH1, CHEK2, MLH1, MLH3, MSH2, MSH6, MYH/MutYH), TP53, PTEN, PMS2, SCG5/GREM1, SMAD4, and STK11 | PCR-based test, IHC, DNA sequence analysis, long-range PCR, RT-PCR and post-PCR curve melting analysis, multiplex ligation probe amplification (MLPA), and array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) | The same as for sporadic colon cancer for monitoring | Immunoassay |
| BRAF, MLH1 promoter methylation | PCR-based test | |||
|
| ||||
| Gastric cancer, sporadic |
CA 19–9, CA 125, and CEA HER2* |
Immunoassay, ELISA | TPA, ferritin, and gastrin | Immunoassay |
| Immunoassay, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) | ||||
|
| ||||
| Gastric cancer, hereditary | CHD1 | DNA sequence analysis, RT-PCR, and post-PCR curve melting analysis | The same as for sporadic gastric cancer for monitoring | |
|
| ||||
| Oral cancer | SCC, CEA | Immunoassay | CA 19-9 | Immunoassay |
|
| ||||
| Glioma | MGMT promoter methylation | Methylation specific PCR | — | — |
| IDH1, IDH2 | DNA sequence analysis, RT-PCR, and post-PCR curve melting analysis | — | — | |
*FISH using labeled DNA probes to the pericentromeric region of chromosome 17 and to the HER2 locus is superior to Southern, Northern, and Western blots and immunohistochemical analyses. Usually performed on tissue, however, blood tests can be ordered. (Note: individual laboratories may use different or other biomarkers and tests.)