London Imperial Charing Cross Hospital Oncology Laboratory
Circulating Tumour Markers
The Oncology laboratory provides a comprehensive range of serological tumour marker tests and is a designated Supra-regional Assay Service (SAS) laboratory for human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) and Alpha Feto-Protein (AFP). Since its inception by Professor Ken Bagshawe, FRS, who developed treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (GTN) based on hCG measurement in the early sixties, our laboratory has expanded its repertoire of tumour markers and developed a follow-up service for germ cell tumour (GCT) patients. Our GTN and GCT follow-up service involves automatic dispatch of request forms for tumour marker analysis at specific time-intervals in accordance with clinical guidelines for their follow-up management. Elevated results are flagged and the clinician in charge informed.
We provide referring clinicians with log-linear graphical reports of serial tumour marker results and can also provide analysis of the rates of change in marker levels; information that can indicate the relative success of treatment or rapidity of tumour growth.
All referred samples are kept for a minimum of one month to support telephone requests for additional testing. As a specialist oncology laboratory located within a clinical oncology department we are actively engaged in research, particularly with hCG and trophoblastic disease and can provide clinical interpretative advice for the assays we provide.
Director: Professor M Seckl
Deputy Director: Dr Richard A Harvey
Assays provided by this service:
Medical Oncology Laboratory,
Charing Cross Hospital,
Fulham Palace Road,
LONDON,
W6 8RF
Tel:+44 (0)20 3311 1400
Fax:+44 (0)20 3311 1443