Which cancers have tumor marker tests?

Tumor marker tests are used for a wide range of cancer types. According to the National Cancer Institute, many different tumor markers have been characterized and are in clinical use, and a number of tumor marker tests are currently being used for many kinds of cancer.

The NCI also notes that some tumor markers are associated with only one type of cancer, while others are associated with multiple cancer types. So a single marker may relate to just one cancer, or the same kind of test may apply to several.

Many of these tests are carried out by commercial and academic laboratories. All tumor markers are tested in laboratories that meet standards set by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments program.

The NCI keeps a separate list of tumor marker tests in common use, which shows the specific markers and the cancer types they are used for. Because this fact sheet does not name each marker and cancer, that list is the place to look for a particular test. Your health care team can also tell you which marker, if any, applies to your situation and why it is being used.