Cancer biomarkers: knowing the present and predicting the future.
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.
Program in Vascular Biology, Children's Hospital, Boston and Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Sabarni.Chatterjee@childrens.harvard.edu
Sabarni K
SK
Chatterjee
Bruce R
BR
Zetter
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D053495:Osteopontin; D011379:Prognosis; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D040901:Proteomics; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000097:blood
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D053495:Osteopontin; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; C506895:SPP1 protein, human