Cancer Biomarker related Antibody Products

Overview of Cancer Biomarkers

A cancer biomarker signifies a substance or phenomenon that signals the existence of cancer within the body, which could include a molecule released by a tumor or a particular bodily response to cancer presence. Epigenetic, glycomic, and imaging biomarkers serve purposes in cancer prognosis, epidemiology, and diagnosis.

Given their potential roles across all cancer stages, biomarkers undergo rigorous evaluation before being integrated into clinical practice. Ideally, these biomarkers are detectable in minimally invasive biofluids such as blood or serum, showing differential expression or changes during carcinogenesis compared to normal conditions. Consequently, proteins, exosomes, enzymes, DNA, mRNA, micro-RNAs (miRNAs), and metabolites are frequently utilized as cancer biomarkers.

Fig.1 Types of cancer biomarkers.^{1, 4}

Classification of Cancer Biomarkers

Applications of Cancer Biomarkers

Genetic, protein, and cellular components can function as diagnostic, prognostic, predictive, and on-treatment biomarkers in cancer. Diagnostic biomarkers detect cancer presence, while prognostic biomarkers provide recurrence risk and outcome information. Predictive biomarkers indicate the potential benefit of specific treatments, and on-treatment biomarkers distinguish early progressors from long responders. Beyond cancer medicine, biomarkers are integral to cancer drug discovery. Additionally, in surrogate endpoint applications, biomarkers serve as proxies for drug effects on cancer progression and survival, potentially reducing the need for tumor biopsies and lengthy clinical trials.

Fig.2 Clinical utilization of cancer biomarkers.^{2, 4}

Techniques for Cancer Biomarker Discovery

Cancer cell signatures are valuable biomarkers in clinical cancer research for risk assessment, detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response evaluation. These biomarkers are analyzed using high-throughput genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic technologies.

• Genomic Technologies: These technologies identify and monitor genetic factors underlying carcinogenic transformations and environmental genetic alterations. Common techniques include DNA microarrays, PCR-based assays, and FISH.
• Proteomic Technologies: Protein-based biomarkers involve changes in protein levels and posttranslational modifications in tissues and bodily fluids. Most clinical cancer biomarkers are antibody-based tests for serum proteins.
• Metabolomic Technologies: Metabolomics studies metabolites in cells, tissues, and bodily fluids using analytical techniques such as NMR, HPLC, GLC, and MS to measure low-molecular-weight metabolites.

Fig.3 Strategies for clinical biomarker discovery.^{3, 4}