Recent Trends in Cancer Diagnosis with Special Reference to Immunodiagnostics

Naik HS and Saminathan M (2020). Recent Trends in Cancer Diagnosis with Special Reference to Immunodiagnostics. Journal of Immunology Immunopathology, 22(1): 73-82.

Cancer is one of the most dreadful diseases of humans and other livestock species in both developed and developing countries. Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that tends to proliferate rapidly and spread to any parts of the body tissues. Non-lethal genetic damage to certain proto-oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and DNA repair genes leads to the synthesis of abnormal proteins, and these proteins carry instructions for cell growth and division, thereby formation of either a benign or malignant tumours. Tumour cells initiate an immune reaction in the body, which plays a critical role in the surveillance and prevention of malignancy. The immune system not only protects the host, but also gives the way for the diagnosis of various diseases, including cancers. The present review provides an insight into the role of different tumour antigens, tumour antibodies, tumour markers and other oncoproteins in the diagnosis of cancers at an early stage and confirmation of various stages of cancers.