PSA Dominates the Market for Tumor Markers: Report

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Immunoassays have played a role in cancer management since the 1960s with the discovery of tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Though these two tests are still an essential part of the cancer diagnostics toolbox, today the tumor marker PSA – prostate specific antigen – dominates the current market for these useful assays, with almost 68% of the market, according to Kalorama Information. Very few new markers have been commercialized in the past few years, though a fair number are in development. Researchers are continuing to try to identify and validate new tumor biomarkers, but this has proven to be a slow process. However, the market for these primary and secondary cancer detection and progress markers is still expected to grow, per the healthcare market research firm's recent report, Tumor Marker Immunoassays Market.

"The market is dominated by PSA and cancer antigen markers," said Bruce Carlson, Publisher of Kalorama Information. "While PSA dominates the current market, with a robust development pipeline it is expected that use of other markers will grow."

PSA is a protein made by the prostate. For decades the PSA test has been used as a marker for the presence of prostate cancer in men. Elevated levels of PSA in blood may indicate the presence of a prostate tumor. However, the PSA test is a non-specific test for prostate cancer. That is, non-cancerous conditions such as an enlarged or inflamed prostate can cause elevations in PSA levels. And even when PSA levels rise above what has routinely been considered a trigger level (4.1 ng/ml in the blood) – indicating the need for a needle biopsy to check prostate tissue for signs of cancer – less than half of those biopsies find cancerous cells.  In addition, up to 44% of PSA-triggered biopsies find cancer cells that are non-lethal, indolent prostate cancer cells. Indolent prostate cancer is highly unlikely to shorten the lifespan of a man. So, in 2013 the U.S. Task Force recommended that men aged 75 and older generally do not benefit from annual PSA screening, but a recent study shows that Medicare spending on PSA screening for this population continues.  Many companies are working on molecular tests that improve the risk assessment of men with suspect PSA test results.

Much of the activity in the development and use of new biomarkers is in the field of oncology, where both single biomarkers and also biomarker panels are being developed and used for a wide range of applications – assessing risk of developing cancer, screening apparently healthy individuals for cancer, diagnosis of cancer, predicting prognosis, monitoring patients including monitoring for recurrence of disease, and determining the best therapy for treatment of a patient.

Growth of the tumor marker market is fueled by factors that are fueling growth of both the research and the diagnostics markets.  Factors fueling growth of the diagnostics market include:

• Demographic factors – aging of the population
• People are living longer with cancer
• Growing number of cancer therapies being developed and commercialized
• Advances in technology, improving our ability to analyze the increasing number of biomarkers
• Advances in bioinformatics

Assays for tumor markers are widely marketed by a large number of companies. Abbott Diagnostics, Beckman Coulter, Fujirebio US, Roche Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers, and Thermo Fisher Scientific are among the companies profiled in the report. Tumor Markers Immunoassay Market (PSA, CEA, CA 125, AFP, CA 15-3, CA 19-9, CYFRA 21-1, ProGRP, SCC, CA 72-4, HE4, Others) can be found at: https://www.kaloramainformation.com/Tumor-Markers-Immunoassay-PSA-CEA-CA-AFP-CYFRA-ProGRP-SCC-HE4-11364800.

About Kalorama Information

Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, supplies the latest in independent medical market research in diagnostics, biotech, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare; as well as a full range of custom research services. Reports can be purchased through Kalorama's website and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com.

We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and our blog on our company website.  

Press Contact:
Bruce Carlson
212 807 2262     
[email protected]

SOURCE Kalorama Information

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