Role of biomarkers in cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

Abstract

In oncology, biomarkers have various probable applications. They are crucial in cancer detection and are vital in diagnosis, predicting outcomes, and determining the prognosis of various types of cancer. Biomarkers are critical in enhancing treatment outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Numerous biomolecules can be used as diagnostic, predictive, and prognostic cancer biomarkers. These biomolecules include genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, proteomic, cellular, physiological, or imaging-based biomarkers. Cancer cells or surrounding non-cancerous cells produce cancer biomarkers in response to the presence of tumors. It offers a critical insight into molecular and cellular changes associated with malignancy. Once a biomarker is identified, it helps elucidate the molecular pathways linked to the onset and progression of cancer and is used to formulate treatment. Many cancer biomarkers are already in therapeutic practice. One major challenge is the development of early-stage detection and prognostic biomarkers, as most early-stage cancers are often asymptomatic and therefore difficult to detect. This chapter will cover the broad spectrum of the role of cancer biomarkers and their application in the context of cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment.