Biomarkers, Cancer Therapy & Clinical Research

Biomarkers in oncology

The indicative process of the presence of cancer in the body is carried out by tools known as cancer biomarkers. A biomarker may be a molecule secreted by a tumor or a specific response of the body to the presence of cancer. There are different types of cancer where biomarkers have their application such as lung, melanoma, breast, colorectal, pancreas and many more. Biochemically, cancer biomarkers can be DNA (germline or somatic), RNA, proteins, peptides, hormones, metabolites and even biological processes such as apoptosis, angiogenesis or proliferation. There are three major types of cancer biomarkers based on their clinical use: prognostic, predictive, and pharmaco-dynamic markers.