The present invention relates to a method aiding in the assessment of cancer. It discloses the use of the proapoptotic caspase adaptor protein (=PACAP) as a universal marker of different types of cancer. PACAP aids in the assessment of pulmonary or lung cancer (LC), particularly of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), but also of other specific types of cancer. Such specific types of cancer are e.g. colon, bladder, cervix, ovary, endometrial, head and neck, breast, melanoma, pancreas, kidney, prostate, esophagus, stomach or bile duct cancer. Furthermore, the present invention especially relates to a method for assessing cancer from a liquid sample, derived from an individual by measuring PACAP in said sample. Measurement of PACAP can, e.g., be used in the early detection of cancer or in the surveillance of patients who undergo surgery.