Role of Tumor Markers and Recent Advances in Cancer Diagnosis

The diagnosis of cancer relies primarily on invasive tissue biopsy, as noninvasive diagnostic tests are generally insufficient to define a disease process of cancer. The conventional histopathology based on light microscopy, however, has recently been complemented with ultrastructure, immunohistochemistry and molecular diagnostics. Molecular medicine has led to the discovery and application of molecular tumor markers, which make histology more accurate and additionally help to prognosticate cancer. Simultaneously, oncologic imaging has undergone remarkable advances. The imaging paradigm is shifting from anatomic and spatial 2D and 3D images to a focus on molecular, functional, biologic and genetic imaging. Recent advances in cancer diagnosis are discussed briefly.