The issues and challenges with cancer biomarkers

Area of Science:

• Biomarkers
• Molecular Oncology
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Biomarkers are measurable indicators of biological states, crucial for disease diagnosis, treatment response, and monitoring.
• Cancer biomarkers are extensively utilized, forming the backbone of therapy, improving efficacy, survival rates, and disease management.
• Despite extensive research, identifying sensitive and specific biomarkers for early cancer detection remains challenging, with current applications limited in pediatric malignancies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role and challenges of molecular biomarkers in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• To highlight the characteristics of an ideal cancer biomarker.
• To discuss the complexities and future directions in cancer biomarker development.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on cancer biomarker research and application.
• Analysis of the criteria for ideal biomarker qualification, referencing guidelines from EDRN, PACCT, and NACB.
• Discussion of the limitations and challenges in current biomarker discovery and validation.

Main Results:

• Cancer biomarkers are pivotal in therapy, monitoring disease progression, response, relapse, and resistance.
• Existing biomarkers often lack the required sensitivity and specificity, and their application in pediatric cancers is limited.
• An ideal biomarker should be quantifiable, reliable, cost-effective, and consistent across diverse populations.

Conclusions:

• The development of sensitive and specific cancer biomarkers is complex and challenging.
• Addressing lacunae in sensitivity, specificity, and pediatric applicability is crucial for advancing biomarker utility.
• Future biomarker development may necessitate the inclusion of multiple biomarkers to accurately represent cancer pathogenesis and predict outcomes.