Cancer Biomarkers 

About: Cancer Biomarkers is an academic journal published by IOS Press. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Cancer. It has an ISSN identifier of 1574-0153. Over the lifetime, 749 publications have been published receiving 12264 citations.

Renal cell carcinoma

Abstract: Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) has the highest mortality rate of the genitourinary cancers and the incidence of RCC has risen steadily. If detected early, RCC is curable by surgery although a minority are at risk of recurrence. Increasing incidental detection and an ageing population has led to active surveillance as an option for patients with small renal masses. RCC is heterogeneous and comprises several histological cell types with different genetics, biology and behavior. The identification of the genes predisposing to inherited syndromes with RCC has provided much of our knowledge of the molecular basis of early sporadic RCC. Many of the oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that are mutated leading to pathway dysregulation in RCC remain to be elucidated. Global studies of copy number, gene sequencing, gene expression, miRNA expression and gene methylation in primary RCC will lead towards this goal. The natural history of RCC indicated by candidate precursor lesions, multifocal or bilateral disease, growth rate of small renal masses under surveillance, and high risk populations provide insight into the behavior of this disease. The use of molecular markers for early detection and prognosis merits more attention with ongoing advances in omics technologies. This review focuses on early RCC, that is disease confined within the renal capsule.

Tissue elasticity properties as biomarkers for prostate cancer.

Abstract: In this paper we evaluate tissue elasticity as a longstanding but qualitative biomarker for prostate cancer and sonoelastography as an emerging imaging tool for providing qualitative and quantitative measurements of prostate tissue stiffness. A Kelvin-Voigt Fractional Derivative (KVFD) viscoelastic model was used to characterize mechanical stress relaxation data measured from human prostate tissue samples. Mechanical testing results revealed that the viscosity parameter for cancerous prostate tissue is greater than that derived from normal tissue by a factor of approximately 2.4. It was also determined that a significant difference exists between normal and cancerous prostate tissue stiffness (p < 0.01) yielding an average elastic contrast that increases from 2.1 at 0.1 Hz to 2.5 at 150 Hz. Qualitative sonoelastographic results show promise for cancer detection in prostate and may prove to be an effective adjunct imaging technique for biopsy guidance. Elasticity images obtained with quantitative sonoelastography agree with mechanical testing and histological results. Overall, results indicate tissue elasticity is a promising biomarker for prostate cancer.

Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) can be a marker of immune suppression in cancer: Interplay between hematologic and solid neoplastic clones and their microenvironments

Abstract: Metabolism of neoplastic cells is shifted toward high glucose uptake and enhanced lactate production Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is comprised of two major subunits, LDH-A and LDH-B, reversibly catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to lactate or lactate to pyruvate LDH-A has a higher affinity for pyruvate and is a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway Elevated LDH is a negative prognostic biomarker not only because it is a key enzyme involved in cancer metabolism, but also because it allows neoplastic cells to suppress and evade the immune system by altering the tumor microenvironment LDH-A alters the tumor microenvironment via increased production of lactate This leads to enhancement of immune-suppressive cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and dendritic cells (DCs); and inhibition of cytolytic cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) By promoting immune-suppression in the tumor microenvironment, LDH-A is able to promote resistance to chemo/radio/targeted therapy Here we discuss the evidence that LDH is both a metabolic and an immune surveillance prognostic biomarker and its elevation is harbinger of negative outcome in both solid and hematologic neoplasms

African-American and Caucasian disparities in colorectal cancer mortality and survival by data source: An epidemiologic review

Abstract: Over the past four decades in the United States, there has been a divergent trend in mortality rates between African-Americans and Caucasians with colorectal cancer (CRC). Rates among Caucasians have been steadily declining, whereas rates among African-Americans have only started a gradual decline in recent years. We reviewed epidemiologic studies of CRC racial disparities between African-Americans and Caucasians, including studies from SEER and population-based cancer registries, Veterans Affairs (VA) databases, healthcare coverage databases, and university and other medical center data sources. Elevated overall and stage-specific risks of CRC mortality and shorter survival for African-Americans compared with Caucasians were reported across all data sources. The magnitude of racial disparities varied across study groups, with the strongest associations observed in university and non-VA hospital-based medical center studies, while an attenuated discrepancy was found in VA database studies. An advanced stage of disease at the time of diagnosis among African-Americans is a major contributing factor to the racial disparity in survival. Several studies, however, have shown that an increased risk of CRC death among African-Americans remains even after controlling for tumor stage at diagnosis, socioeconomic factors, and comorbidity. Despite advances in treatment, improvements in the standard of care, and increased screening options, racial differences persist in CRC mortality and survival. Therefore, continued research efforts are necessary to disentangle the clinical, social, biological, and environmental factors that constitute the racial disparity. In addition, results across data sources should be considered when evaluating racial differences in cancer outcomes.

Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma may impair the performance of biomarkers: a comparison of AFP, DCP, and AFP-L3.

Abstract: Current surveillance strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are applied uniformly in patients with cirrhosis, regardless of their cancer risk. The aim of this study was to compare the performance characteristics of the biomarkers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), des-gamma carboxyprothrombin (DCP), and lectin-bound AFP (AFP-L3) in the diagnosis of HCC, and to determine the effect of risk factors for HCC on test performance. Eighty-four patients with HCC and 169 patients with cirrhosis were enrolled and their serum analyzed for total AFP, AFP-L3 and DCP. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to determine the performance characteristics. DCP was significantly better than total AFP or AFP-L3 in differentiating HCC from cirrhosis, with a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 93%. When subjects were divided into two groups by their risk for HCC, all 3 markers had a lower sensitivity and area under the ROC curve in the high-risk group compared to the low-risk group. In conclusion, DCP has the best performance characteristics of all 3 serum markers for the diagnosis of HCC. Serum biomarkers may be less sensitive and specific in the highest risk patients.