Tumor markers in oral cancer: A review

Tumor markers are the substances produced in response to the presence of cancer either by the body itself or by the cancer cells. These markers mostly are the proteins that are produced at a greater rate by the cancer cells. Increased levels of these substances can be detected in urine, blood, or body tissues of the patients with certain types of cancer. These markers are useful in differentiating primary or secondary tumors. In few noncancerous conditions, these markers are often found to be elevated. For these reasons, the knowledge regarding these biomarkers has increased tremendously. This article classifies the different types of tumor markers and implicates their role in some diseases.