Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
07:40
Preparation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Pellets and Plasma from a Single Blood Draw at Clinical Trial Sites for Biomarker Analysis
Published on: March 20, 2021
Has discovery-based cancer research been a bust?
1Department of Oncology, Clinical Cancer Informatics & Research Centre, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Sydney, Australia, repstein@stvincents.com.au.
Summary
High expectations for first-generation cancer diagnostics led to slow clinical progress. Second-generation diagnostics must focus on high-signal data, not just statistical patterns, for better anticancer drug development.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genomics
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- The human genome sequence completion raised hopes for novel anticancer drug development.
- Clinical progress in oncology has been slower than anticipated over the past decade.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impact of first-generation discovery-based diagnostics on anticancer drug development.
- To propose a framework for more effective second-generation multiplex diagnostics.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical progress and diagnostic assay performance in oncology.
- Analysis of limitations in first-generation multiplex assays (gene expression profiling, proteomics).
- Identification of key features for second-generation multiplex diagnostics.
Main Results:
- First-generation multiplex assays have yielded limited high-impact therapeutic targets despite prognostic correlations.
- Hypothesis-based single-molecule tests show incremental clinical utility.
- Statistical patterns alone are insufficient for high-impact diagnostic development.
Conclusions:
- Unrealistically high expectations for first-generation diagnostics have hindered progress.
- Second-generation multiplex diagnostics require clinically interpretable, high-signal data.
- Focusing on functional mutations, amplifications, and signaling pathways will advance anticancer drug development.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Drug Discovery: Overview
Drug discovery is a multifaceted process involving extensive screening, testing, and optimization of lead compounds to identify potential new drugs for therapeutic use. It combines several approaches, including screening large numbers of natural products, chemical modification of known active molecules, identification of new drug targets, and rational design based on biological mechanisms and drug-receptor structure. These approaches are carried out in both academic research laboratories and...
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
02:18Cancer
Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
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...
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...