## Tumor Markers: Specificity and Sensitivity **Key Point:** PSA is tissue-specific but NOT cancer-specific. It is elevated in benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, and prostate cancer—making it unsuitable as a diagnostic marker for cancer alone. ### Marker Profiles: | Marker | Tumor(s) | Specificity | Clinical Use | |--------|---------|-------------|---------------| | AFP | HCC, NSGCT | Moderate | Diagnosis & monitoring | | PSA | Prostate cancer, BPH, prostatitis | **Tissue-specific, NOT cancer-specific** | Screening (controversial) | | CEA | CRC, gastric, pancreatic | Low-moderate | Monitoring recurrence | | hCG | Choriocarcinoma, NSGCT | High | Diagnosis & monitoring | **Clinical Pearl:** PSA elevation does not confirm malignancy; biopsy is required. BPH and prostatitis are common benign causes of elevated PSA. **High-Yield:** Tumor markers are best used for **monitoring disease progression and recurrence**, not for primary diagnosis (except in specific contexts like hCG in germ cell tumors).
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