Oncology and Radiology

Biomarkers and Cancer Targets

Biomarkers or the molecular markers are the biological molecules (such as DNA, RNA, and Proteins), genes or the processes such as apoptosis and proliferation by which a specific disease, condition or any abnormalities in the body can be identified. It is a measurable indicator in a biological system and can be found in blood, tissues, specific organs, cell lines and in other body fluids.

They play a major role in the diagnosis as well as for the management of Cancer.  Cancer biomarkers are either produced by the tumors itself or in response to the disease or other associated factors such as inflammation, indicating the presence of the Cancer in the body.

Biomarkers are primarily used in three ways for Cancer research and medicine:

• Diagnostic (or screening) biomarker: For the diagnosis of the condition, as in the case of an early stage of the Cancer.
• Prognostic biomarker: forecasting of the condition that how aggressive it is and determining the patient’s response in the absence of the treatment.
• Stratification (predictive) biomarker: to predict the patient’s response to the treatment.