What are Biomarkers?

Biomarkers are substances found in blood, other bodily fluids, or tissues that can help tell us a lot about certain types of cancers.1 They are like a map or a signature that doctors may use to guide how to treat some cancers. They may help predict your risk for some cancers or may help tell us if a treatment may be more or less likely to work.1

Biomarkers have been found for breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate, among other tumor types.2,3 Some markers have been found only in one type of cancer so far. Others may be present in different types of cancer.4 For example, the gene HER-2 has been found in breast and stomach cancer.4

There are many different categories of biomarkers that all have different roles. Four common categories are found below5:

Detection biomarkers
Detection biomarkers may help doctors find cancer, even in the earliest stages, before it can cause symptoms.
Diagnostic biomarkers
Diagnostic biomarkers may help show if you have cancer or if a cancer is likely.4 One example is the breast cancer type 1 protein (BRCA1). This is a gene that, if altered (or "mutated"), raises the risk for developing breast or ovarian cancer.6
Prognostic biomarkers
Prognostic biomarkers may help doctors understand how cancer may grow, no matter how it is being treated.4, 5 They also may tell a doctor if the cancer might come back, or recur.4 For example, one test can help doctors know if breast cancer will return after the tumor has been treated.4 Knowing this may help doctors decide how they should treat cancer.
Predictive biomarkers
Predictive biomarkers are used to help determine the response and side effects that may result from a treatment.5 This information helps doctors find out which treatment might be more or less likely to work. Or they may help a doctor decide on the right dose of a drug.5

Do you have questions? Talk to your doctor. Ask if there is a biomarker for your type of cancer and if testing may be right for you.

References:
  1. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Biomarkers and Targeted Therapy. Available at http://www.nccn.com/component/content/article/56/927-biomarkers-and-targeted-therapy.html. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website. Table of Pharmacogenomic Biomarkers in Drug Labels. Available at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ScienceResearch/ResearchAreas/Pharmacogenetics/ucm083378.htm. Accessed April 15, 2011.
  3. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2010. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2010.
  4. American Cancer Society. Tumor Markers Fact Sheet. Available at http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003189-pdf.pdf. Accessed March 31, 2011.
  5. Mishra, A., Verma, M. Cancer Biomarkers: Are We Ready For The Prime Time?” Cancers. 2010: 2: 190-208.
  6. National Cancer Institute. BRCA1 and BRCA2: Cancer Risk and Genetic Testing. Available at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA. Accessed April 15, 2011.

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