Cancer biomarker

Cancer biomarkers are substances or processes that are indicative of the presence of cancer in the body. A biomarker may be a molecule secreted by a tumor or a specific response of the body to the presence of cancer. Genetic, epigenetic, proteomic, glycomic, and imaging biomarkers can be used for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and epidemiology. Ideally, such biomarkers can be assayed in non-invasively collected biofluids like blood or serum.

Types of Cancer Biomarkers

Cancer biomarkers can be classified into several types based on their application and the nature of the biomarkers. These include:

• Diagnostic biomarkers: Help in identifying the presence of cancer.
• Prognostic biomarkers: Provide information about the patient's overall outcome, regardless of therapy.
• Predictive biomarkers: Predict the response of a cancer to a particular treatment.
• Pharmacodynamic biomarkers: Indicate whether a drug is effective in the target area of the body.
• Early detection biomarkers: Used to detect cancer at an early stage, potentially before symptoms appear.

Examples of Cancer Biomarkers

Some well-known examples of cancer biomarkers include:

• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA): Used for the screening and monitoring of prostate cancer.
• CA-125: Used for the detection and monitoring of ovarian cancer.
• HER2/neu receptor: Overexpression is associated with certain types of breast cancer and can predict response to targeted therapy.
• BRAF V600E: Mutation associated with various cancers, including melanoma, colorectal cancer, and others, which can influence treatment decisions.

Challenges and Future Directions

While cancer biomarkers hold great promise for the management of cancer, there are several challenges to their effective use. These include the need for validation of biomarker specificity and sensitivity, the development of cost-effective tests for widespread use, and the integration of biomarker testing into clinical practice. Future research is focused on identifying new biomarkers, improving the accuracy and reliability of existing markers, and developing personalized medicine approaches that tailor treatment to individual patients based on their biomarker profile.

See Also

• Oncology
• Personalized medicine
• Cancer research
• Molecular diagnostics

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  Cancer biomarker figure

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  Cancer deaths by type