Biomarkers in Cancer Detection, Diagnosis, and Prognosis

TLDR

Biomarkers serve as objective indicators that enable early detection, guide treatment decisions, monitor disease progression, and accelerate drug development, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. This review surveys cancer detection biomarkers, including imaging modalities (CT, SPECT, MRI, PET), blood‑based markers (proteins, genes, mRNA, peptides), cell imaging techniques (needle biopsy, CTC), tissue imaging (IHC), and genetic assays (RNAseq, scRNAseq, spatial transcriptomics).

Abstract

Biomarkers are vital in healthcare as they provide valuable insights into disease diagnosis, prognosis, treatment response, and personalized medicine. They serve as objective indicators, enabling early detection and intervention, leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced costs. Biomarkers also guide treatment decisions by predicting disease outcomes and facilitating individualized treatment plans. They play a role in monitoring disease progression, adjusting treatments, and detecting early signs of recurrence. Furthermore, biomarkers enhance drug development and clinical trials by identifying suitable patients and accelerating the approval process. In this review paper, we described a variety of biomarkers applicable for cancer detection and diagnosis, such as imaging-based diagnosis (CT, SPECT, MRI, and PET), blood-based biomarkers (proteins, genes, mRNA, and peptides), cell imaging-based diagnosis (needle biopsy and CTC), tissue imaging-based diagnosis (IHC), and genetic-based biomarkers (RNAseq, scRNAseq, and spatial transcriptomics).