Cancer biomarkers: knowing the present and predicting the future

Abstract

In recent years the discovery of cancer biomarkers has become a major focus of cancer research. The widespread use of prostate-specific antigen in prostate cancer screening has motivated researchers to identify suitable markers for screening different types of cancer. Biomarkers are also useful for diagnosis, monitoring disease progression, predicting disease recurrence and therapeutic treatment efficacy. With the advent of new and improved genomic and proteomic technologies such as DNA and tissue microarray, two-dimensional gel eletrophoresis, mass spectrometry and protein assays coupled with advanced bioinformatic tools, it is possible to develop biomarkers that are able to reliably and accurately predict outcomes during cancer management and treatment. In years to come, a serum or urine test for every phase of cancer may drive clinical decision making, supplementing or replacing currently existing invasive techniques.

A strategy for blood biomarker amplification and localization using ultrasound

“…Error bars shown are SEM. tion or management of disease and that multiple panels of biomarkers will be required (2,(7)(8)(9). This consensus seems to be based on the fundamental biomarker problems our study addresses, and we are uncertain about how this issue will unfold in the future.…”

“…Consequently, there has been a large body of work attempting to discover and validate serum biomarkers, particularly for the detection of cancers (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). Despite the numerous investigations exploring the clinical use of biomarkers and a large increase in the number of potential biomarkers identified, few recently identified blood biomarkers are used for clinical care, and their rate of introduction into the clinical environment is actually falling (8,11).…”

“…Our hypothesis is also based on the fact that ultrasonic energy can be deposited in a spatially localized way, potentially releasing biomarkers only when the energy is applied to a tumor or portions of a tumor. We chose the initial biomarker used for routine clinical cancer care in the detection and recurrence of colon cancer, carcinoembryonic acid (CEA) (2,21), to test our hypothesis at a low 1-MHz frequency of ultrasonic energy. Our results in cell culture and in tumor-bearing living mice form the basis of this proof-of-concept report.…”

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?

“…Bioinformatics and fast, not expensive DNA sequencing allows acquisition of malignant genes/mutations on a personal level 2,4,5 . Once the genes have been identified, patients will be treated with personalized medicine to modify or silence their expression of malignant genes 6 .…”

Enzymes and related proteins as cancer biomarkers: A proteomic approach

“…Today, the most common use of cancer biomarkers is for the detection of the recurrent disease and monitoring therapy. In the future, better tests that may predict the response of tumors to particular therapeutic drugs in different individuals may be developed, which can be used in patient-tailored therapy and personalized medicine [2].…”