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Background: Updated National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory Pharmaceutical Usage Guidelines for the use of tumor markers in the clinic have in the offing been developed.

Methods: Published reports applicable to use of tumor markers for 4 cancer sites—liver, bladder, cervical, and gastric—were critically reviewed.

Results: -Fetoprotein (AFP) may be habituated to in conjunction with abdominal ultrasound for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with lingering hepatitis or cirrhosis associated with hepatitis B or C virus infection. AFP concentrations >200 µg/L in cirrhotic patients with regular hypervascular lesions >2 cm in bigness are regular with HCC. After a diagnosis of HCC, posttreatment monitoring with AFP is recommended as an adjunct to imaging, principally in the scantiness of measurable illness.

Although several urine markers organize been proposed for bladder cancer, not any at bonus can make good on designated cystoscopy and cytology in the managing of patients with this malignancy. Some may, however, be toughened as complementary adjuncts to unambiguous more actual use of clinical procedures.

Although carcinoembryonic antigen and CA 19-9 sire been proposed for use gastric cancer and squamous chamber carcinoma antigen for use in cervical cancer, not one of these markers can currently be recommended for habitual clinical use.

Conclusions: Implementation of these recommendations should embolden optimal use of tumor markers for patients with liver, bladder, cervical, or gastric cancers.