Tumor markers do not only show values that indicate malignant changes, and "false positive" results can indicate various inflammations and benign conditions, Dr. Lenka Radulović Tomović, specialist in clinical biochemistry, said in "Morning Colors" on TV Vijesti.
"The specificity, that is, the non-specificity of tumor markers, is precisely that they are sometimes elevated in benign conditions, such as inflammation of benign hyperplasia. Then, in cirrhosis of the liver, inflammation of the bile ducts, inflammation of the pancreas," pointed out Radulović Tomović.
She explained that although there is no 100 percent sensitive and specific tumor marker that would diagnose cancer at the very beginning of the disease, they, along with other laboratory diagnostics and a clinical examination of the patient, are necessary to determine the condition, explains Radulović Tomović.
It also indicates factors in tumor development.
"The first risk factor is the aging of the organism. Then there are other factors such as physical, chemical, biological. Of the physical ones, I would definitely mention the influence of solar radiation. Secondly, I would mention the influence of chemical factors, both in the aerosol, i.e. exhaust gases in traffic, and other chemical agents used in agriculture and food. I would also like to mention the influence of biological factors in the first place," said Radulović Tomović.
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