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The “gold standard” for a diagnosis of cancer is a histopathological
examination by a pathologist on biopsied tumor tissue. Unfortunately
this is not always done and the diagnosis is made from clinical
findings or less. Cancer can be mimicked by many other diseases.
Moreover, cancer statistics depend on the accuracy of death
certificates, where cancer may not be properly noted as the cause
of death.
Biologic markers are playing an increasingly important role
in cancer management. Most of these markers are not unique for
cancer cells, but are shared also by normal cells and may also be
overexpressed in benign conditions. Thus markers cannot be used
to screen populations to detect cancer.
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