Tumor markers in serum and in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

There is still no efficient, economical and practical strategy for the timely diagnosis of the bronchial carcinoma. Even tumor markers do not fulfill expectations, and approaches like the measurement of markers in the bronchial lavage have been rather disappointing. Tumor suppressing genes and (viral) protooncogenes are in their importance with regard not only to the definition of the risk collective but also to the evaluation of their entire importance not yet to be judged in the final sense; the understanding of carcinogenesis was however strongly influenced by them. With the progress of gene therapy interesting new aspects move in vitro, like for example, the revision of the malignant cell character in obvious proximity. This study summarizes present knowledge about tumor markers and considers future perspectives.