Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPEP) Test: M Protein, Myeloma, and Monoclonal Gammopathy
Serum protein electrophoresis, or SPEP, separates proteins in blood into recognizable fractions and can reveal a monoclonal protein, often called an M protein, M...
SOX11 Test: Mantle Cell Lymphoma Marker, Positive Staining, and Diagnostic Meaning
A SOX11 test is mainly a pathology test used to help identify and classify mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). SOX11 is a transcription factor that...
TET2 Mutation Test: Blood Cancer, Clonal Hematopoiesis, Myeloid Neoplasms, and Mutation Meaning
A TET2 mutation test looks for acquired changes in the TET2 gene in blood or bone marrow cells. TET2 helps regulate DNA methylation and...
TP53 Mutation Test for Blood Cancer: High-Risk Leukemia, Mutation Status, and Prognosis
A TP53 mutation test looks for changes in one of the body's most important tumor-suppressor genes. In blood cancers, TP53 abnormalities are especially important...
TP53 Test for CLL: del17p, TP53 Mutation, Treatment Risk, and Prognosis
TP53 testing is one of the most important genetic evaluations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) because TP53 disruption can change which treatments are expected...
Urine Protein Electrophoresis (UPEP) Test: Bence Jones Protein, Myeloma Monitoring, and Meaning
Urine protein electrophoresis, or UPEP, separates proteins in urine and can detect and measure monoclonal free light chains, historically called Bence Jones proteins. These...
AFP-L3 Test: Liver Cancer Risk, AFP Fraction, HCC Monitoring, and Result Meaning
The AFP-L3 test measures a specific form of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) that is more closely associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver...
BRAF V600E Test for Colon Cancer: Mutation Status, Prognosis, and Lynch Syndrome Workup
The BRAF V600E test looks for a specific activating mutation in the BRAF gene that is clinically important in colorectal cancer. In metastatic disease,...
BRCA1 and BRCA2 Test for Pancreatic Cancer: Hereditary Risk, DNA Repair, and Variant Meaning
BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing in pancreatic cancer looks for changes in DNA-repair genes that can matter for both inherited cancer risk and treatment selection....
CA 19-9 Test for Pancreatic Cancer: High Levels, Monitoring, and Bile Duct Causes
CA 19-9 is the blood tumor marker used most often in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, but its biggest value is monitoring a known cancer, not...
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...