Disclosed is a method aiding in the assessment of cancer. More specifically disclosed is the use of the arginine-rich metastasized in early tumors protein (=ARMET) as a universal marker of different cancer types. ARMET aids in the assessment of pulmonary or lung cancer (LC) or of colon cancer, e.g., of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) or colorectal cancer (CRC), but also likely of other specific types of cancer. Such specific cancer types are, e.g., breast, ovary, cervix, head and neck, endometrium, melanoma, bladder, kidney, pancreas, prostate, esophagus, stomach or bile duct cancer. Further disclosed is a method for assessing cancer from a liquid sample, derived from an individual by measuring ARMET in the sample. Measurement of ARMET can, e.g., be used in the early detection of cancer or in the surveillance of patients who undergo surgery.