Does an elevated tumor marker mean cancer?

The increase of tumor markers does not necessarily mean cancer.

Tumor markers refer to substances synthesized, released by tumor cells or produced by the body in response to tumor cells during tumor development and proliferation. When tumor markers are increased, it may indicate the risk of cancer, but it cannot be directly diagnosed as cancer. Because the increase of tumor markers may also be affected by other non-tumor factors, such as inflammation, infection, liver disease, kidney disease, etc.