Course Outline
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- Definitions and Background
- Key Definitions
- Background
- Cancer Prevalence and Relative Risk
- Cancer Prevalence - New Cancer Cases by Site
- Cancer Predispositions
- Early Detection is Crucial
- Which statement would not fit the definition of a tumor marker?
- The Ideal Tumor Marker
- Specificity
- The Ideal Tumor Marker Would Have 100% Specificity
- Sensitivity
- Concentration and Tumor Mass
- The Ideal Tumor Marker Would Be Indicative of Tumor Mass
- Analytical Aspects
- The Ideal Tumor Marker Would be Detectable in Blood or Biological Fluids
- The Ideal Tumor Marker Would be Adaptable to Laboratory Analysis
- True or False: Ideally, for a tumor marker to be considered as a screening tool, it should be consistently elevated at the early stages of the disease...
- Reference Values
- Reality
- Examples of Tumor Markers
- Hormones
- Specific Proteins
- Specific Proteins as Tumor Markers
- Specific Proteins as Tumor Markers - Monoclonal Immunoglobulins
- Specific Proteins as Tumor Markers - Diagnostic Utility
- True or False: Detecting an immunoglobulin clone, such as IgM, is always associated with a malignant condition, such as multiple myeloma.
- Enzymes
- Carbohydrate Markers
- Blood Group Antigen-Related Cancer Markers
- Blood Group Antigens as Tumor Markers
- CA 19-9
- Receptors
- Oncofetal Antigens
- Mutations of Tumor Suppressor Genes
- Breast Cancer Susceptibility Proteins
- References
Additional Information
Level of instruction: Beginning
Intended audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, laboratory supervisors, and laboratory managers. This course is also appropriate for MLS and MLT students and pathology residents.
Author information: Jack A. Maggiore, PhD, MT(ASCP) is an Assistant Professor and Associate Laboratory Director of the Core Laboratory Operations and Point of Care Testing at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Maggiore is a medical technologist, certified by the ASCP, with a Master of Science in Clinical Chemistry and a Doctorate in Pathology from the University of Illinois. His expertise includes clinical instrumentation, method development and validation, quality assurance, medical device clinical trials, and scientific regulatory affairs. His clinical research interests include the development of novel biomarkers for chronic diseases using blood spots and other non-conventional samples. Dr. Maggiore holds several medical device patents, has authored more than fifty peer-reviewed and invited publications and textbook chapters, and has presented his research findings at international scientific society meetings. Dr. Maggiore's mission is to work with healthcare professionals to empower consumers to take a more active role in their health maintenance.
Reviewer Information:
Kevin F. Foley, PhD, DABCC, MT, SC, is the director of clinical pathology for the Kaiser Permanente Northwest region. He also teaches clinical chemistry at Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Foley earned his PhD in clinical pharmacology and toxicology at East Carolina School of Medicine in North Carolina.
Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM received his Bachelor
of Science and Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Thomas
Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. He holds Medical Laboratory Scientist
and Specialist in Hematology certifications through the ASCP Board of
Certification. He was a professor at Thomas Jefferson University for seven
years before transitioning into his current role as Education Developer at
MediaLab. His areas of expertise and professional passions include clinical
hematology and interprofessional education.
