The role of tumor markers in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer

Tumor markers refer to antigens and other biologically active substances that are produced or secreted by tumor cells during the process of carcinogenesis due to the expression of oncogenes, which respond to the existence and growth of tumors. In simple terms, they are some special molecules produced by tumor cells.

Since the serum levels of tumor markers are often related to the occurrence, development, regression and recurrence of malignant tumors, when cell carcinoma develops further, the determination of serum levels of tumor markers can be used for auxiliary diagnosis of tumors, detection of recurrence, metastasis and prognosis.

The colorectal cancer tumor markers that are currently widely used and have certain reference value include CA-50, CA-242, CA19-9 and CEA, but tumor markers still lack specificity for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Although colorectal cancer tumor markers are not highly specific, they are still of great guiding significance for the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer. For example, if a patient who has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and has undergone surgical resection finds that the tumor marker index, which had previously dropped to normal values, suddenly increases during a postoperative follow-up examination, then the possibility of tumor recurrence should be suspected.

In addition, the discovery of tumor markers also provides a possible way to detect tumors at an early stage, that is, many tumor markers can also be slightly, moderately or temporarily elevated in benign diseases. However, the continuous dynamic measurement of tumor markers not only helps to distinguish between benign and malignant diseases, but can also be used as a means of observing the prognosis and efficacy of confirmed patients.