Radioimmunoassay for the measurement of tumour markers

At the present time, the new concept of tumour markers (TM) includes not only the ''classical'' secretion products bu also all changes (immunological, biochemical, morphological, antigenic, etc.) which the cell undergoes throughout the transformation process. With the use of isotopic methods we can determine some tumour markers in biological fluids which are useful in clinical practice (preferentially in the follow-up of cancer patients undergoing treatment). Nevertheless, with the new concept to TM, we can also determine other new substances in tumour specimens, prior to any treatment, which can help in the early characterization of the tumour (tissular markers) related to hormone dependence, aggressiveness, drug resistance, free survival interval, etc. The isotopic methods allow us to determine hormone receptors (e.g. oestrogen, androgen, progesterone receptors), growth factor receptors (e.g. epidermal, insulin-like, platelet derived), changes in oncogenes and anti-oncogenes (amplifications, mutations, deletions, overexpression, etc.) oncogene and anti-oncogene products (neu, p53, Rb protein, etc.), proteinases (cathepsins, collagenases, etc.), proteinase inhibitors, some biochemical changes of the different components of cell surface, proteins related to drug resistance and to cell proliferation, etc. In conclusion, the new concept of tumour marker includes all aspects of tumours cells and requires an intercollaborative and co-ordinated study to determine early on the behaviour (characterization) of a tumour and to provide the oncologist with ''real'' information. (author). 26 refs, 6 figs, 8 tabs