Cancer Biomarkers

This detailed volume explores numerous methods used in basic science laboratories to characterize cancer-related biomarkers, vital for better managing cancer burden, including cancer risk assessment, cancer diagnosis, determining cancer progression, and therapeutic response. From a radiography method to an examination of single-cell RNA-seq and computational analysis tools in cancer research, this book delves into many techniques that could provide valuable molecular information about the tumor and its microenvironment components. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Cancer Biomarkers: Methods and Protocols offers researchers multiple helpful ways to study cancer-associated molecular biomarkers.

At present there are a growing number of biomolecules under investigation to understand their potential role as cancer biomarker for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic purposes. Intriguingly, the state of art on cancer biomarkers research shows interesting and promising results together to clamorous failures. Also from a clinical point of view, there are contradictory results on routine clinical use of the present cancer biomarkers. Some patients may be simply monitored in their course by a periodic blood sample, but sometimes this monitoring shows dramatic limits. A lot of patients show serious and extensive relapses without significant change in serum concentrations of biomarkers tested. Often the physician who should utilize these biomarker does not entirely know their limits and the total potential applications as well and sometimes this knowledge is influenced by economical and marketing strategies. This limited and “polluted” knowledge may have dramatic consequences for patient. The aim of this book is to diffuse all aspects of cancer biomarkers, from their biochemical peculiarities to all clinical implications by passing through their physiology and pathophysiology. This critical approach towards old and new cancer biomarkers should foster a deepened and useful understanding of the diagnostic and prognostic index of these fundamental parameters of laboratory medicine and in the same time facilitating the research of new and more sensitive-specific signals of the cancer cell proliferation.

This book comprehensively summarizes the biology, etiology, and pathology of ovarian cancer and explores the role of deep molecular and cellular profiling in the advancement of precision medicine. The initial chapter discusses our current understanding of the origin, development, progression and tumorigenesis of ovarian cancer. In turn, the book highlights the development of resistance, disease occurrence, and poor prognosis that are the hallmarks of ovarian cancer. The book then reviews the role of deep molecular and cellular profiling to overcome challenges that are associated with the treatment of ovarian cancer. It explores the use of genome-wide association analysis to identify genetic variants for the evaluation of ovarian carcinoma risk and prognostic prediction. Lastly, it highlights various diagnostic and prognostic ovarian cancer biomarkers for the development of molecular-targeted therapy.

In the past decade there has been a major sea change in the way disease is diagnosed and investigated due to the advent of high throughput technologies, such as microarrays, lab on a chip, proteomics, genomics, lipomics, metabolomics etc. These advances have enabled the discovery of new and novel markers of disease relating to autoimmune disorders, cancers, endocrine diseases, genetic disorders, sensory damage, intestinal diseases etc. In many instances these developments have gone hand in hand with the discovery of biomarkers elucidated via traditional or conventional methods, such as histopathology or clinical biochemistry. Together with microprocessor-based data analysis, advanced statistics and bioinformatics these markers have been used to identify individuals with active disease or pathology as well as those who are refractory or have distinguishing pathologies. New analytical methods that have been used to identify markers of disease and is suggested that there may be as many as 40 different platforms. Unfortunately techniques and methods have not been readily transferable to other disease states and sometimes diagnosis still relies on single analytes rather than a cohort of markers. There is thus a demand for a comprehensive and focused evidenced-based text and scientific literature that addresses these issues. Hence the formulation of Biomarkers in Disease. The series covers a wide number of areas including for example, nutrition, cancer, endocrinology, cardiology, addictions, immunology, birth defects, genetics, and so on. The chapters are written by national or international experts and specialists.

Prepared by world leaders on this topic, Biomarkers in Cancer Screening and Early Detection offers a comprehensive, state-of-the-art perspective on the various research and clinical aspects of cancer biomarkers, from their discovery and development to their validation, clinical utility, and use in developing personalized cancer treatment. Offers a comprehensive, state-of-the-art perspective on the various research and clinical aspects of cancer biomarkers Provides immediately actionable information – and hopefully also inspiration – to move discovery and clinical application forward Offers vital knowledge to help develop personalized cancer treatment for individual patients with specific cancers

This book provides the immune oncology (IO) community with a deeper understanding of the scope of the biomarker methods to potentially improve the outcome from immunotherapy. The editors secured the input from experts in the field dedicated to translating scientific research from bench to bedside was submitted. The book provides not only details about the technical, standardization and interpretation aspects of the methods but also introduces the reader to the background information and scientific justification for selected biomarkers and assays. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Gleaning information from more than 100 experts in the field of cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy worldwide, Cancer Biomarkers: Non-Invasive Early Diagnosis and Prognosis determines the significance of clinical validation approaches for several markers. This book examines the use of noninvasive or minimally invasive molecular cancer markers that are under development or currently in use. It deals with a majority of commonly prevalent cancers and can help anyone working in the health-care industry to recommend or develop early diagnostics, at-risk tests, and prognostic biomarkers for various cancers. It explores the practice of determining biomarkers by their characteristics and relative methodologies, and presents the most recent data as well as a number of current and upcoming early diagnostic noninvasive molecular markers for many common cancers. It also considers the sensitivity and specificity of markers, biomarker market, test providers, and patent information. Approximately 30-35 Cancer Specific Noninvasive Molecular Diagnostic Markers in a Single Volume The book details the general and technical aspects of noninvasive cancer markers. It covers imaging, cutting-edge molecular technologies for biomarker development, and noninvasive or minimally invasive sources of molecular markers, as well as quality control and ethical issues in cancer biomarker discovery. It also provides a detailed account of brain, head and neck, and oral cancer markers, and provides information on a number of gastrointestinal cancers, lung cancer, and mesothelioma markers. Emphasizes the Importance of Volatile Markers in Early Cancer Diagnosis Presents noninvasive early molecular markers in urological cancers Describes gynecological and endocrine cancer markers Details noninvasive markers of breast, ovarian, cervical, and thyroid cancers Addresses hematological malignancies Contains information on noninvasive molecular markers in myelodysplastic syndromes, acute myeloid leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and multiple myeloma Provides comprehensive information on diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cutaneous melanoma This text considers molecular technologies for biomarker development, noninvasive or minimally invasive sources of molecular markers, and quality control and ethical issues in cancer biomarker discovery.

Tools, techniques, and progress in cancer biomarkers discovery The completion of a number of gene sequencing projects, recent advances in genomic and proteomic technologies, and the availability of powerful bioinformatics tools have led to promising new avenues and approaches in the search for cancer biomarkers. This book provides a comprehensive overview of current methodologies and technologies. It discusses biomarker discovery as a whole, rather than focusing on one specific marker or cancer. With information on both existing and potential biomarkers, Cancer Biomarkers: Analytical Techniques for Discovery: * Provides insights into the current technological platforms for biomarker discovery, including mass spectrometry combined with multidimensional chromatography, DIGE, and various chip technologies * Includes a detailed discussion of protein networks and protein phosphorylation in cancer * Details the use of imaging mass spectrometry, laser capture microdissection, serial analysis of gene expression, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, protein microarrays, antibody-based microarrays, and bioinformatics * Covers the emerging role of surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization (SELDI) and various tagging and labeling strategies * Discusses related regulatory and ethical issues With a wealth of information that can be applied to a broad spectrum of biomarker research projects, this is a core reference for biomarker researchers, scientists working in proteomics and bioinformatics, pharmaceutical scientists, oncologists, biochemists, biologists, and chemists.