The invention relates to a photonic probe apparatus and a method for probing tissue to detect and mark biological tissue with cancerous or precancerous states. The apparatus involves a probe for illuminating tissue and collecting light from an illuminated tissue region through the probe, a unit for analyzing collected light to determine whether a threshold measure of probability of a cancerous or precancerous lesion in the probed tissue region in contact with the probe is exceeded, and an integrated tissue marking facility which can be activated to mark the probed tissue region through the probe when the threshold measure is exceeded. The photonic probe apparatus and the method are especially suitable for probing regions in squamous and columnar epithelia to detect and mark regions with cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).