Serum tumor markers are not used for initial diagnosis but are used later for treatment response. Which statement is NOT correct?

Serum tumor markers are not used for initial diagnosis but are used later for treatment response. Which statement is NOT correct?

• A. They are used to diagnose initial breast cancer
• B. They are not used for initial diagnosis
• C. They are used later to monitor treatment response
• D. They can be used to assess prognosis

Answer: (B)

Serum tumor markers are not reliable for diagnosing breast cancer at the outset because their sensitivity and specificity are limited, and elevations can occur with benign conditions as well as with other processes. Their proven roles are in monitoring disease in patients who already have a known cancer and in providing some prognostic information in certain settings. As therapy proceeds, a downward or stable trend in marker levels can suggest a treatment response, while rising levels may indicate progression or relapse, though imaging and clinical assessment remain essential. They can contribute to prognosis, particularly in more advanced disease, by reflecting tumor burden, but they are not used for initial screening or diagnosis. Therefore, the statement claiming they are used to diagnose initial breast cancer is not correct.

Serum tumor markers are not reliable for diagnosing breast cancer at the outset because their sensitivity and specificity are limited, and elevations can occur with benign conditions as well as with other processes. Their proven roles are in monitoring disease in patients who already have a known cancer and in providing some prognostic information in certain settings. As therapy proceeds, a downward or stable trend in marker levels can suggest a treatment response, while rising levels may indicate progression or relapse, though imaging and clinical assessment remain essential. They can contribute to prognosis, particularly in more advanced disease, by reflecting tumor burden, but they are not used for initial screening or diagnosis. Therefore, the statement claiming they are used to diagnose initial breast cancer is not correct.