Diagnostic importance of serum markers in lung cancer

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer‑related mortality worldwide, which is largely because it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Early detection, particularly in high‑risk populations, is important for improving patient outcomes. Liquid biopsy, which analyzes circulating biomarkers in the blood, offers a promising non‑invasive approach for early diagnosis and monitoring. The present small‑scale pilot study employed matrix‑assisted laser desorption/ionization time‑of‑flight mass spectrometry‑based serum peptidomics, which revealed preliminary differential peptide signals between patients with lung cancer and individuals with benign pulmonary nodules. These findings highlight the potential of this approach while underscoring the need for rigorous validation in larger cohorts. Integration of multi‑analyte biomarker panels with clinical and imaging data represents a potential strategy for achieving more precise management of pulmonary nodules. Overall, serum‑based biomarkers hold promise for advancing lung cancer diagnostics toward earlier detection and personalized patient management.