Tumormerkmal

Tumormerkmale are specific characteristics or molecules found in or on tumor cells that can be used for diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment selection. These markers can be proteins, genes, or other substances that are produced in abnormal amounts or are mutated in cancer. Identifying tumormerkmale is crucial in modern oncology for tailoring therapies to individual patients and improving outcomes.

Common tumormerkmale include gene mutations, such as those in KRAS or EGFR, which can indicate a specific type of cancer and suggest targeted drug therapies. Protein markers, like HER2 in breast cancer or PSA in prostate cancer, are often detected through blood tests or tissue biopsies and can help in diagnosis and monitoring treatment response. The expression levels of certain proteins on the surface of tumor cells can also serve as tumormerkmale, guiding the use of antibody-based therapies.

The study and application of tumormerkmale fall under the umbrella of molecular pathology and precision medicine. Advances in technology, such as next-generation sequencing and immunohistochemistry, have greatly expanded the ability to identify and analyze these markers. Understanding tumormerkmale allows for a more precise classification of tumors, prediction of how aggressive a cancer might be, and selection of the most effective treatments, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach to cancer care.