CEA Test for Colon Cancer: High Levels, Monitoring, Recurrence, and Benign Causes
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is the blood tumor marker used most often to monitor colon cancer after diagnosis and treatment. It is especially useful when...
CEA Test for Pancreatic Cancer: Tumor Marker Levels, Monitoring, and Result Meaning
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a blood tumor marker that can rise in pancreatic cancer, but it is not the primary serum marker for this...
Cholangiocarcinoma Biomarker Panel: CA 19-9, FGFR2, IDH1, IDH2, and Molecular Profile
A cholangiocarcinoma biomarker panel combines a serum marker such as CA 19-9 with tumor molecular testing that can uncover actionable alterations. The distinction is...
CLDN18.2 Test for Gastric Cancer: Claudin 18.2 Expression Score and Tumor Marker Meaning
The CLDN18.2 test is a tumor-tissue immunohistochemistry test used to identify gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas that express enough claudin 18.2 to qualify for...
Colorectal Cancer Biomarker Panel: KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, MSI, CEA, and Molecular Testing
A colorectal cancer biomarker panel combines tumor and blood tests that answer different clinical questions: Which treatments are likely to work, could the cancer...
Des-Gamma-Carboxy Prothrombin (DCP) Test: Liver Cancer Marker, HCC Monitoring, and Meaning
Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) is a blood biomarker used to assess hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer. DCP is also called protein...
EBV Test for Gastric Cancer: Epstein-Barr Virus Tumor Marker and Molecular Subtype
The EBV test used to classify gastric cancer is usually EBER in situ hybridization (EBER-ISH) performed on tumor tissue. It detects abundant Epstein-Barr virus-encoded...
FGFR2 Fusion Test for Cholangiocarcinoma: Gene Fusion, Positive Result, and Molecular Meaning
An FGFR2 fusion test looks for rearrangements that join the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 gene to another gene and create an abnormally active...
Gastric Cancer Biomarker Panel: HER2, PD-L1, MSI, CLDN18.2, EBV, and Molecular Profile
A modern gastric cancer biomarker panel can directly shape first-line and later treatment. The most clinically established markers include HER2, PD-L1, microsatellite instability or...
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) Biomarker Panel: KIT, PDGFRA, DOG1, and Tumor Diagnosis
GIST diagnosis combines tumor appearance under the microscope with immunohistochemistry and mutation testing. KIT (CD117) and DOG1 are the most useful immunostains for confirming...
GI Cancer Biomarker Panel: CEA, CA 19-9, MSI, KRAS, BRAF, HER2, and Tumor Profile
A GI cancer biomarker panel is not one universal blood test. It is a group of blood, pathology, and molecular tests selected according to...
Guardant Reveal Test: Colorectal Cancer ctDNA MRD and Recurrence Monitoring
Guardant Reveal is a blood-based circulating tumor DNA test designed to detect molecular residual disease after treatment for colorectal cancer. Unlike tumor-informed assays that...
HER2 Test for Colon Cancer: HER2 Expression, Amplification, and Tumor Marker Meaning
HER2 testing in colorectal cancer looks for abnormal ERBB2/HER2 activation, usually through strong protein expression and/or gene amplification. It is most relevant in metastatic...
HER2 Test for Gastric Cancer: HER2 Expression, IHC/FISH Status, and Amplification
HER2 testing in gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma determines whether the tumor overexpresses HER2 protein or has ERBB2 gene amplification strongly enough to qualify...
IDH1 and IDH2 Test for Cholangiocarcinoma: Mutation Status and Molecular Meaning
IDH1 and IDH2 testing in cholangiocarcinoma looks for mutations that reprogram cell metabolism and can define a targetable molecular subtype. The alterations are concentrated...
KRAS Test for Colon Cancer: Mutation Status, Anti-EGFR Resistance Marker, and Meaning
KRAS testing in colorectal cancer determines whether the tumor carries an activating RAS-pathway mutation that predicts resistance to standard anti-EGFR antibodies. The clinically relevant...
KRAS Test for Pancreatic Cancer: Tumor Mutation, Mutation Status, and Diagnostic Context
KRAS is the dominant driver gene in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, with activating mutations present in roughly nine out of ten tumors. Testing can support...
Liver Cancer Biomarker Panel: AFP, DCP, PIVKA-II, AFP-L3, and HCC Risk
AFP, AFP-L3%, and DCP/PIVKA-II are blood biomarkers associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, but they do not function as a stand-alone “liver cancer panel” that can...
MLH1 Promoter Methylation Test: Colon Cancer, Lynch Syndrome Workup, and Sporadic MSI
MLH1 promoter methylation testing helps explain why a colorectal cancer has lost MLH1/PMS2 mismatch-repair proteins or shows microsatellite instability. In many older adults, MLH1...
MMR IHC Test for Colon Cancer: MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, and Lynch Screening
Mismatch-repair immunohistochemistry (MMR IHC) is a tumor test that stains colorectal cancer cells for four DNA-repair proteins: MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, and MSH6. Intact nuclear...