Table 1 Biomarkers used in cancer
From: Unlocking the power of precision medicine: exploring the role of biomarkers in cancer management
Type of biomarker | Description | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
Genetic biomarkers | Mutations or other genetic abnormalities specific to certain diseases | Identifying patients who are more likely to respond to targeted therapies for cancer, such as the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) mutation in lung cancer | MutL protein homolog 1 (MLH1), MutS homolog 2/6 (MSH2/6), PMS1 homolog 2 (PMS1/2), Breast cancer type ½ (BRCA1/2), Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolo (KRAS), Tumor protein p53 (TP53), etc. |
Epigenetic biomarkers | Changes in gene expression associated with disease | Diagnosing and treating cancer, such as the DNA methylation in breast, lung and colon cancer | Histone modification, Non-coding RNAs, Chromatin accessibility, MicroRNA expression |
Protein biomarkers | Proteins produced by disease cells that can be detected in the blood or tissue of patients | Monitoring the progression of cancer | C-reactive protein (CRP), Troponin, Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125), HER2, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) |
Metabolite biomarkers | Produced during metabolism and associated with tumor growth | Used as a biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of lung, pancreatic, thyroid, breast and hepatic cancer | Palmitic acid, Cholesterol, Lactate, Creatinine, Triglycerides, Urea, Ketone bodies |
Transcriptome biomarkers | Changes in the expression of RNA molecules that are indicative of cancer | Differentiate types of cancers, Identify molecular targets for cancer | Immune-related genes (CD8A, IFNG), Non-coding RNA molecules (microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs-), Splice variants of RNA |