Biomarkers for Cancer Detection and Diagnosis

12:00 PM to 01:00PM

Biomarkers play a crucial role in cancer detection and diagnosis by providing indicators that can suggest the presence of cancer, its progression, or the effectiveness of treatment. Here’s an overview of biomarkers used in cancer care:

Types of Biomarkers:

Genetic Biomarkers:

• Mutations: Changes in DNA sequences that can promote cancer development (e.g., BRCA mutations in breast cancer).
• Gene Expression: Abnormal expression levels of certain genes associated with cancer (e.g., HER2/neu in breast cancer).

Protein Biomarkers:

• Antigens: Proteins produced by cancer cells that can be detected in blood (e.g., PSA for prostate cancer).
• Enzymes and Hormones: Abnormal levels indicative of cancer presence or progression (e.g., CA-125 for ovarian cancer).

Metabolite Biomarkers:

• Metabolic Products: Altered metabolite levels due to cancer metabolism (e.g., lactate in certain cancers).

Imaging Biomarkers:

• Radiographic Markers: Visual signs on imaging studies (e.g., tumors detected on CT scans, PET scans).

Uses of Biomarkers in Cancer Care:

• Screening: Identifying individuals at high risk of cancer (e.g., PSA for prostate cancer screening).
• Diagnosis: Confirming the presence of cancer and determining its type (e.g., HER2 testing in breast cancer).
• Prognosis: Predicting the likely course of the disease (e.g., molecular profiling to assess aggressiveness).
• Monitoring: Tracking response to treatment and detecting recurrence (e.g., circulating tumor DNA post-surgery).
• Targeted Therapy: Personalizing treatment based on biomarker profiles (e.g., EGFR mutations in lung cancer for targeted therapy).

Challenges:

• Specificity and Sensitivity: Biomarkers must accurately differentiate between cancer and benign conditions.
• Validation: Ensuring biomarkers are reliable and reproducible across different populations and settings.
• Technological Limitations: Some biomarkers require advanced technologies for detection and quantification.
• Ethical Considerations: Issues such as privacy, consent, and potential misuse of genetic information.

Future Directions:

• Liquid Biopsies: Non-invasive methods like blood tests to detect circulating tumor cells and DNA.
• Multi-Omics Approaches: Integrating genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics for comprehensive biomarker panels.
• Artificial Intelligence: Enhancing biomarker discovery and interpretation through machine learning and big data analytics.

Conclusion: Biomarkers continue to revolutionize cancer care by improving early detection, personalized treatment strategies, and patient outcomes. As research advances, the landscape of biomarker utilization in oncology is expected to expand, offering more precise and effective tools for combating cancer.

Dr. Divya Khosla

Program Director

Biography

Dr. Divya Khosla is a tenured Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the prestigious Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. She has experience of more than 10 years in this field. Her expertise is mainly in the field of gastrointestinal, breast and lung malignancies. In addition to being a faculty in an academic institute, she is also an invited faculty at various national conferences. She is an active member of several professional organisations and has numerous publications to her credit which includes original articles, invited reviews and chapters in the book