Tumour markers in gastric cancer

We still lack clinically useful tumour markers in gastric cancer. To be of clinical value markers should be elevated in the early stages of the disease, when surgery for cure is possible. However, tumour markers available today, like CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 50, mainly detect advanced gastric cancer, for which only palliative treatment is available. The use of tumour markers in the follow-up of radically operated patients seems to be of only academic interest, mainly because a recurrence of gastric cancer is incurable. The preoperative tumour marker level may have a prognostic value and may be clinically useful in selecting patients for adjuvant treatment. To elucidate this, prospective controlled trials are needed. A short review of tumour markers in gastric cancer will be presented.