# Tumour markers (CEA, LDH, chromogranin, thyroglobulin)

Source: https://onco.cc/terms/tumour-markers/  
OnCo record `tumour-markers` (Term). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Substances released into the blood by some cancers that can be measured with a simple test, useful for tracking whether treatment is working or the cancer is coming back, but rarely good enough to diagnose or screen.

## Summary

CEA is followed after colorectal cancer surgery and in monitoring metastatic disease. LDH is prognostic in melanoma, lymphoma (part of the IPI) and germ cell tumours; AFP and hCG diagnose and stage testicular cancer; chromogranin A and 5-HIAA track neuroendocrine tumours; thyroglobulin monitors differentiated thyroid cancer after thyroidectomy and calcitonin monitors medullary thyroid cancer; PSA, CA-125 and CA 19-9 have their own entries. Markers rise in benign conditions too, so they are interpreted as trends alongside imaging; ctDNA is increasingly the more specific alternative.

## Fields

- Kind: Term
- Last checked: 2026-09-09
- Also known as: tumour marker; tumor marker; tumor markers; serum markers; CEA; LDH; Lactate dehydrogenase; lactate dehydrogenase; LDH level; raised LDH; elevated LDH; chromogranin; thyroglobulin; calcitonin; beta-hCG; hCG; 5-HIAA; NSE; CA 15-3; CA 72-4

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumor_marker
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumor_marker

## Connected records

- terms: [Cell-free DNA (cfDNA)](https://onco.cc/terms/cfdna/), [Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA)](https://onco.cc/terms/ctdna/), [FLIPI, FLIPI2 and POD24 (follicular lymphoma risk)](https://onco.cc/terms/flipi/), [M-protein, immunofixation and serum free light chains](https://onco.cc/terms/m-protein-free-light-chains/), [Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) status](https://onco.cc/terms/mcpyv-status/), [Radioiodine therapy (I-131)](https://onco.cc/terms/radioiodine-term/), [Smouldering myeloma / MGUS](https://onco.cc/terms/smoldering-myeloma/), [Urinary catecholamine metabolites (VMA and HVA)](https://onco.cc/terms/urinary-catecholamines/)
- targets: [MUC16 (CA-125)](https://onco.cc/targets/muc16/)
- cancers: [Cancer of unknown primary, favourable subsets](https://onco.cc/cancers/cup-favourable-subsets/), [Choriocarcinoma of the testis](https://onco.cc/cancers/testicular-choriocarcinoma/), [Colorectal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/colorectal/), [Embryonal carcinoma of the testis](https://onco.cc/cancers/embryonal-carcinoma-testis/), [Extragonadal germ cell tumour](https://onco.cc/cancers/extragonadal-germ-cell-tumour/), [Germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS)](https://onco.cc/cancers/germ-cell-neoplasia-in-situ/), [High-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (FIGO score 7 or more, including ultra-high-risk)](https://onco.cc/cancers/high-risk-gtn/), [Low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (FIGO score 0 to 6)](https://onco.cc/cancers/low-risk-gtn/), [Mediastinal germ cell tumour](https://onco.cc/cancers/mediastinal-germ-cell-tumour/), [Melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/melanoma/), [Neuroendocrine tumours](https://onco.cc/cancers/neuroendocrine/), [Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/pancreatic/), [Placental-site trophoblastic tumour and epithelioid trophoblastic tumour](https://onco.cc/cancers/placental-site-trophoblastic-tumour/), [Retroperitoneal germ cell tumour](https://onco.cc/cancers/retroperitoneal-germ-cell-tumour/), [Spermatocytic tumour of the testis](https://onco.cc/cancers/spermatocytic-tumour/), [Thyroid cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/thyroid/), [Yolk sac tumour of the testis, postpubertal type](https://onco.cc/cancers/yolk-sac-tumour-postpubertal/)
- fronts: [Diagnostics & Biomarkers](https://onco.cc/fronts/diagnostics/)
- key papers: [Lead-Time Trajectory of CA19-9 as an Anchor Marker for Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-fahrmann-ca19-9-lead-time-gastroenterology-2021/), [Relationship of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and Lewis antigens in pancreatic cancer](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-tempero-ca19-9-lewis-antigens-cancer-res-1987/)
- roadmaps: [Pancreatic cancer roadmap: from Whipple's operation to gemcitabine, FOLFIRINOX, adjuvant chemotherapy, PARP inhibition, KRAS inhibition, vaccines and the surveillance question](https://onco.cc/roadmaps/pancreatic-roadmap/)
- journals: [Tumour biology](https://onco.cc/journals/tumour-biology/)
- technologies: [AFP, hCG and LDH in germ cell tumours (IGCCCG risk groups)](https://onco.cc/technologies/germ-cell-tumour-markers/), [CEA surveillance after colorectal cancer surgery](https://onco.cc/technologies/cea-surveillance-colorectal/), [Serum tumour markers: proper use and misuse](https://onco.cc/technologies/serum-tumour-markers/), [Thyroglobulin, calcitonin and CEA in thyroid cancer follow-up](https://onco.cc/technologies/thyroid-cancer-markers/)

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