Tumor Markers
Blood tests for cancer detection, monitoring, and treatment tracking.
Tumor markers are relatively inexpensive blood tests that can be used to identify and possibly quantify the tumor cells present, as well as be used for follow up to see if a treatment is effective or ineffective.
Key Tumor Markers
- Nagalase — Assesses tumor burden and aggressiveness, monitors response to treatment. Non-specific for most solid and blood tumors.
- AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) — Hepatocellular carcinoma, non-seminomatous germ cell tumor, ovarian, gastric, and pancreato-biliary cancers.
- CA 19-9 — Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, biliary tree, gastric, liver, colorectal, lung, thyroid.
- CA 15-3 — Breast (advanced stages), lung, ovarian.
- CA-125 — Ovarian, endometrial, breast, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, liver, lung.
- CA 27.29 — Breast (recurrence/metastasis), colon, pancreatic.
- CEA — Colorectal, pancreatic, gastric, lung, bladder.
- PSA — Prostate cancer.
- LDH — Lymphoma, melanoma, leukemia.
- HER2 — Breast, gastric/esophageal cancer.
Markers by Cancer Type
Breast Cancer: CA 27.29, CA 15-3, CEA, CA 19-9
Pancreatic Cancer: CA 19-9, CEA, CA 125
Colorectal Cancer: CEA, CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 242
Glioblastoma: No tumor markers currently available (blood-brain barrier intact).
PET Scan
Identifies tumors/metastases via glucose-avid tracer. Measures FDG uptake (metabolic activity). Cost (Houston, TX): $1,400.
Prenuvo Whole Body Scan
Assesses tumors, metabolic disorders, spinal degeneration. Cost: $2,499.
Liquid Blood Biopsies
- Signatera — Personalized MRD assay for recurrence monitoring (covered by Medicare for colon/breast/bladder).
- Galleri — Detects 50+ cancers via cfDNA signals.
- CellSearch — CTCs for metastatic breast/prostate/colon cancer.
- Guardant360 CDx — ctDNA for treatment selection.
- FoundationOne Liquid CDx — Genomic analysis for treatment guidance.