Molecular Markers of Cancer
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MOLECULAR 
MARKERS  OF 
CANCER
1-631-624-4882 44-161-818-6441 (Europe)
(USA)
1-631-938-8221
[email protected]
45-1 Ramsey Road, Shirley, NY 11967, 
USA
Molecular Markers of Cancer
Cancer biomarker (CB) is a biomolecule produced by a tumor cell or other cells of the body in  
response to a tumor. Each cell type has its own unique molecular and identifiable 
characteristics,  such as the level or activity of a gene, protein or other molecular feature. 
Biomarkers often  distinguish affected patients from those who do not. These changes may be 
due to a number of  factors, including germline or somatic mutations, transcriptional changes, 
and post-translational  modifications. There are a variety of biomarkers that may include proteins 
(eg, enzymes or  receptors), nucleic acids (eg, microRNAs or other non-coding RNAs), antibodies 
and peptides,  metabolites or physiological processes such as apoptosis, angiogenesis or 
proliferation, and other  classes. In addition, biomarkers can also be a collection of alterations, 
such as gene expression,  proteomics, and metabolomics. A marker that responds to cancer is 
produced by the tumor itself  or other tissue. Such biomarkers can be found in a variety of body 
fluids, tissues and cell lines.  Therefore, non-invasive and continuous evaluation can be 
performed by detecting blood (whole  blood, serum or plasma), excretion or secretion (feces, 
urine, sputum or nipple discharge). In  addition, it can also be of tissue origin and can be used 
for tissue biopsy or special imaging  detection.
Figure 1. Molecular cancer 
biomarkers.
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Application of Cancer Marker in clinical
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) defines biomarkers as: "Biomolecules found in blood, other 
body  fluids or tissues, are signs of normal or abnormal processes or conditions. Biomarkers can 
be used to  detect treatment Processes, also known as molecular markers and characteristic 
molecules."  Cancer biomarkers are biomarkers that meet the above definition and are only 
suitable for cancer.  Cancer biomarkers can be detected easily, reliably, and economically by 
using assays with high  analytical sensitivity and specificity. According to clinical application 
classification, tumor  biomarkers can be divided into diagnostic (screening) biomarkers, 
prognostic biomarkers, stratified  (predicted) biomarkers and others.
Figure 2. Types of 
biomarkers.
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 Diagnosis (screening) biomarker
This type of marker is used to detect and identify markers of a given type of cancer in an  
individual. These markers are expected to be highly specific and sensitive. For example, the  
presence of Bence-Jones protein in urine remains one of the important diagnostic targets for  
multiple myeloma; prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a well-known cancer biomarker 
Increased  PSA levels in men tend to indicate prostate cancer.
 Prognostic  biomarker
This type of marker is used after the disease state is established. These biomarkers are 
expected  to predict the likely course of the disease, including its recurrence, so they have 
a major impact  on the aggressiveness of the treatment. For example, in testicular teratoma, 
human chorionic  gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein levels can distinguish between groups 
with different  survival rates; in breast cancer, many gene expression signatures have been 
developed that  can be estimated for the prognosis of individual patients; in the case of 
metastatic breast  cancer, circulating tumor cells have been shown to be prognostic factors 
for overall survival.
 Stratified (predicted) biomarkers
This type of marker is used to predict the response to a drug prior to the start of treatment 
and  is used to determine which therapy is most likely to be effective. This marker classifies 
an  individual as a possible responder or non-responder to a particular treatment. These 
biomarkers  are primarily derived from array-type experiments, allowing clinical outcomes to 
be predicted  based on the molecular characteristics of the patient's tumor. For example, in 
colorectal  cancer, KRAS is a predictive biomarker because somatic mutations in KRAS are 
associated with  adverse reactions to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) directed 
therapy; similarly,  overexpression or gene amplification of the HER2 gene is predicted in 
breast cancer and  gastric cancer to determine the therapeutic effect of anti-Her2 agents 
such as trastuzumab on  cancer; overexpression of estrogen receptors in breast cancer is 
predictive of anti-endocrine  therapy such as tamoxifen.
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 Other c lassification
It has been determined that biomarkers can be used to determine the risk of an individual  
having cancer. For example, a woman with a strong family history of ovarian cancer can  
perform a genetic test to determine if she is a carrier of a germline mutation, such as BRCA1
,  which increases her risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer. Biomarkers can also 
be  used to monitor response to treatment in a metastatic environment. Circulating soluble 
protein  tumor markers such as CEA, PSA, CA125, MUC-1 antigens are recommended for the 
monitoring  of metastatic colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer 
and  pancreatic cancer.
Figure 3. Steps of identification and validation of potential cancer 
biomarkers
for implementation in c linical practice.
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Product of Cancer 
Marker
Cancer Type Cancer Marker
Breast 
cancer
PR(progesterone receptor)
ER(estrogen recepto
r)
HER2
BRCA
1
Leukemia/Lymphoma
CD20
CD30
FIP1L1-
PDGFEα
PDGFR
BCR/AB
L
PML/RAR-α
TPM
T
UGT1A1
Gastric 
cancer
HER-1/neu
Prostate 
cancer
BRCA2
PSCA
PSA
Non-small-cell lung 
cancer
BRCA1
P53
KRAS
Colorectal 
cancer
EGFR
KRA
S
UGT1A1
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Contact 
Us
1-631-624-4882
1-631-938-8221
[email protected]
45-1 Ramsey Road, Shirley, NY 11967, 
USA