The significance of serum tumor markers in the diagnosis of several of the most widespread types of cancer (lung, gastric, colorectal, breast, endometrial and ovarian) has been reviewed. The high heterogeneity of obtained results demonstrated in this review suggests that none of the present markers can be utilized alone as a significant marker of neoplasia and that only their combined use can give objective information. The role of individual variability of various markers in the detection of different stages of neoplastic transformations has also been revised. It was concluded that none of the markers studied can be absolutely positive without false results, and that objective information regarding early stages of malignancy may be obtained only with a combined analysis utilizing many laboratory methods. A new approach should be developed in oncological diagnostic practice.

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