Use of Tumor Markers in Clinical Practice: Quality Requirements

The National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry

Presents

LABORATORY MEDICINE PRACTICE GUIDELINES

USE OF TUMOR MARKERS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE: QUALITY REQUIREMENTS

These guidelines are intended to encourage more appropriate use of tumor marker tests by primary care physicians, hospital physicians and surgeons, specialist oncologists, and other health care professionals. The background and methodology described within this document represent the larger undertaking to address tumor markers in clinical practice of which this set of guidelines is a part. The recommendations contained herein are based upon the best available evidence and consensus of expert contributors and reviewers. Toward this effort, draft revisions of these guidelines were prepared and placed for comment on the NACB web site. The guideline chapters resulting from this process have been published in appropriate peer-reviewed laboratory medicine and specialty clinical journals to assist with dissemination among the target groups.

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Source: aacc.org

Rising Liquid Biopsy Tide Lifts Cancer Dx

Traditional Tissue Biopsies Are Not Providing the Type of Real-Time Monitoring Necessary for Effectively Catching Relapse

As molecular diagnostics for oncology shifts into clinical practice, efforts have not only focused on genotyping patient-specific tumors to initiate targeted therapies, but on early detection, availability, improved quality control, and refined workflow.

One major push, that exemplifies the concomitance of these trends, has been the rise of the less-invasive and more cost-effective liquid sampling for cancer diagnosis; sometimes called a liquid biopsy.

Read more: Rising Liquid Biopsy Tide Lifts Cancer Dx

The FDA recently approved Hologic’s prostate cancer test, which improves upon the less sensitive
and less specific standard PSA tests via examination of the PCA3 gene in urine.

Source: genengnews