title: Tumour biomarkers: homeostasis as a novel prognostic indicator.
abstract: The term 'personalized medicine' refers to a medical procedure that consists in the grouping of patients based on their predicted individual response to therapy or risk of disease. In oncologic patients, a 'tailored' therapeutic approach may potentially improve their survival and well-being by not only reducing the tumour, but also enhancing therapeutic response and minimizing the adverse effects. Diagnostic tests are often used to select appropriate and optimal therapies that rely both on patient genome and other molecular/cellular analysis. Several studies have shown that lifestyle and environmental factors can influence the epigenome and that epigenetic events may be involved in carcinogenesis. Thus, in addition to traditional biomarkers, epigenetic factors are raising considerable interest, because they could potentially be used as an excellent tool for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. In this review, we summarize the role of conventional cancer genetic biomarkers and their association with epigenomics. Furthermore, we will focus on the so-called 'homeostatic biomarkers' that result from the physiological response to cancer, emphasizing the concept that an altered 'new' homeostasis influence not only tumour environment, but also the whole organism.
authors.affiliation: Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale Sperimentazione Animale, Istituto Nazionale Tumori 'Fondazione G. Pascale', IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falco
authors.affiliation: Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale Sperimentazione Animale, Istituto Nazionale Tumori 'Fondazione G. Pascale', IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.affiliation: Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale Sperimentazione Animale, Istituto Nazionale Tumori 'Fondazione G. Pascale', IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Biase
authors.affiliation: Molecular lmmunology and Immuneregulation, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, IRCCS Naples 'Fondazione G. Pascale', Naples, italy, Istituto Nazionale Tumori 'Fondazione G. Pascale', IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scala
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Breast Disease, National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, 'Fondazione Pascale', Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Aiuto
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Uro-Gynaecological Oncology, , Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori 'Fondazione G. Pascale', IRCCS, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Facchini
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori 'Fondazione G. Pascale', IRCCS, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Sisto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perdonà
authors.affiliation: Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale Sperimentazione Animale, Istituto Nazionale Tumori 'Fondazione G. Pascale', IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.affiliation: Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale Sperimentazione Animale, Istituto Nazionale Tumori 'Fondazione G. Pascale', IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy c.arra@istitutotumori.na.it.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3162-2091
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arra
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D057890:Epigenomics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D057285:Precision Medicine; D011379:Prognosis; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: biomarkers; cancer; homeostasis; metabolomics