Cancer-associated biomarkers

Cancer-associated biomarkers are biological molecules or characteristics found in blood, tissues, or other body fluids that indicate the presence of cancer or provide information about its behavior (National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/biomarker). These markers include a diverse array of molecules such as proteins, DNA mutations, RNA expression patterns, and metabolites (NIH BEST Resource: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK338448/). They are essential tools in modern oncology for screening, diagnosing specific cancer types, and determining the prognosis of a patient (Nature Reviews Cancer: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrc.2017.74). Furthermore, predictive biomarkers are used to identify patients most likely to benefit from specific targeted therapies, such as using HER2 status to guide the use of trastuzumab (American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/diagnosis-staging/tests/biomarker-tests.html). While some biomarkers are also therapeutic targets, the category as a whole represents the measurable indicators of disease state rather than a single receptor or enzyme. The clinical application of these biomarkers facilitates precision medicine by tailoring treatments to the molecular profile of an individual's tumor (PubMed: 30089180). However, the use of biomarkers is often complicated by issues of sensitivity and specificity, which can lead to false positive or false negative results (StatPearls: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559036/). Monitoring changes in biomarker levels over time also allows clinicians to assess treatment efficacy and detect early signs of recurrence (Journal of Clinical Oncology: https://ascopubs.org/journal/jco).

Other names

Tumor markersOncology biomarkersCancer markersClinical biomarkers

Mechanisms of action are specific to the individual biomarker being targeted; they include inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinases, blockade of immune checkpoints, and modulation of hormone receptors (PubMed: 28930210).