Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Quantitative Mass Spectrometric Profiling of Cancer-cell Proteomes Derived From Liquid and Solid Tumors
08:08

Quantitative Mass Spectrometric Profiling of Cancer-cell Proteomes Derived From Liquid and Solid Tumors

Published on: February 27, 2015

The cancer biomarker problem

Charles L Sawyers1

  • 1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA.

Nature
|April 4, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Genomic technologies advance cancer understanding by characterizing tumors. Identifying cancer biomarkers is crucial for predicting patient response to targeted therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Genomic technologies provide deep insights into cancer at the molecular level.
  • Clinical successes demonstrate the utility of molecular information in designing targeted cancer drugs.
  • A key challenge remains in identifying reliable biomarkers for targeted therapy selection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the role of genomic technologies in cancer research.
  • To emphasize the importance of biomarkers in personalized cancer medicine.
  • To address the barrier in identifying predictive biomarkers for targeted therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Characterization of tumors using advanced genomic technologies.
  • Analysis of clinical data to correlate molecular profiles with treatment outcomes.
  • Literature review on biomarker discovery and validation strategies.

Main Results:

  • Genomic characterization enables a comprehensive understanding of tumor biology.
  • Targeted drug development is significantly advanced by molecular insights.
  • Biomarker identification is essential for optimizing targeted therapy efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Genomic technologies are pivotal in advancing cancer research and treatment.
  • Effective identification of cancer biomarkers is critical for the success of targeted therapies.
  • Overcoming biomarker identification challenges will accelerate progress in personalized oncology.

Related Concept Videos

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...