Biomarker

Biomarkers are biological or physiological measurements that mirror a disease process.

A biomarker, or biological marker, is a measurable indicator of some biological state or condition.

Biomarkers are defined as measurable characteristics that can be objectively evaluated as indicators of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacological responses to a therapeutic intervention.

Biomarkers are often measured and evaluated using blood, urine, or soft tissues to examine normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention.

Biomarkers encompass a wide range of biological molecules such as genes, proteins, and metabolites.

In the context of cancer, biomarkers can include genetic variants, epigenetic signatures, and proteomic profiles, which can be detected through advanced technologies like next-generation sequencing and nanotechnology.

There are 4 main classes of biomarkers: molecular, physiologic, histologic and radiographic.

All four types of biomarkers have a clinical role in treatment decisions and follow a sub-categorization of being either predictive, prognostic, or diagnostic.

Predictive molecular, cellular, or imaging biomarkers can serve as a method of predicting clinical outcomes.

Predictive biomarkers are used to help optimize ideal treatments, and often indicate the likelihood of benefiting from a specific therapy.

Common examples of predictive biomarkers are genes such as ER, PR and HER2/neu in breast cancer, BCR-ABL fusion protein in chronic myeloid leukaemia, c-KIT mutations in GIST tumors. EGFR1 mutations in NSCLC, and KRAS in colorectal cancer.

Diagnostic biomarkers can serve a role in narrowing down diagnosis.

Cardiac biomarkers can be measured to determine exactly when an attack occurred and how severe it was.

A biomarker can be a traceable substance that is introduced into an organism as a means to examine organ function or other aspects of health.

A biomarker could be a substance whose detection indicates a particular disease state: the presence of an antibody may indicate an infection.

A biomarker indicates a change in expression or state of a protein that correlates with the risk or progression of a disease, or with the susceptibility of the disease to a given treatment.

Prostate-specific antigen marker can be measured as a proxy of prostate size with rapid changes potentially indicating cancer.

Detecting mutant proteins as cancer specific biomarkers through selected reaction monitoring providing ultimately the best specificity for medical purposes.

With traumatic brain injury (TBI) a blood-based biomarker measuring the levels of neuronal Ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) and Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) to aid in the diagnosis of the presence of cranial lesion(s) among moderate to mild TBI patients that otherwise only diagnosable with the use of a CT scan of the head.

KRAS, is an oncogene marker that encodes a GTPase involved in several signal transduction pathways.

Biomarkers for precision oncology are typically utilized in the molecular diagnostics of chronic myeloid leukemia, colon, breast, and lung cancer, and in melanoma.

Digital biomarkers are a novel emerging field of biomarkers, mostly collected by smart biosensors.

Digital biomarkers have been focusing on monitoring vital parameters such heartrate, and speech.

Non-invasive, molecular digital biomarkers are increasingly available recorded: skin sweat analysis, which can be seen as next-generation digital biomarkers.

Collecting and tracking digital biomarkers with the advancement of smartphones and wearables.

In Parkinson’s disease finger tapping a mobile phone via counting apps have been used as a method of evaluating bradykinesia and effectiveness of medication.

Digital biomarkers are currently being used in conjugation with artificial intelligence in order to recognize symptoms for mild cognitive impairment.

Specific neural indicators can be measured by devices to evaluate patients for any neuro abnormalities.

The data collected can determine the patients disease probability or condition.

Using machine learning we can observe and detect any deviation from normal behavior, and these markers are used as signs or indicators of cognitive decline.

A prognostic biomarker provides information about the patients overall outcome, regardless of any treatment or therapeutic intervention.

One example of a prognostic biomarkers in clinical research, is the use of mutated PIK3CA in the study of metastatic breast cancer.

Nutritional biomarkers are used to estimate dietary intake in nutrition research, in particular nutritional epidemiology.

Many biomarkers are derived from compounds found in foods, such as sugar or phytochemicals, or combinations are used as metabolomics.

Biomarkers are increasingly being used to motivate health behavior change, particularly in diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity research.

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA have been shown to correlate to risk, progression, and treatment response of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Seven criteria by which biomarkers can be assessed in order to streamline clinical validation.

Proof of concept sensitivity specificity robustness accuracy reproducibility practicality ethicality

Biomarkers are used for diagnosing diseases, predicting disease progression, monitoring treatment responses, and guiding therapeutic decisions.

In cell biology, a biomarker is a molecule that allows the detection and isolation of a particular cell type.

In genetics, a biomarker is a DNA sequence that causes disease or is associated with susceptibility to disease.

Biomarkers can be used and applied in the fields of human medicine and in the detection of diseases.

Types of Biomarkers include: Diagnostic biomarkers: Identify the presence of a disease. Prognostic biomarkers: Predict disease progression. Predictive biomarkers: Indicate response to specific treatments. Monitoring biomarkers: Track disease progression or treatment effects.

Common biomarkers include: Blood pressure Cholesterol levels BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations