New Method Shows Promise in Improving Diagnostic Biomarker Cancer Tests

Biomarkers are unique proteins in the body that serve as early indicators for cancer. There are thousands of potentially important biomarkers that researchers have discovered. However, due to research constraints only a few ever successfully pass through clinical validation.

This backlog has proven to be a major hurdle in the effort to bring biomarker screening tests to the public. Now, however, a team of researchers has developed a promising new method that has the potential to screen for numerous biomarkers among high volumes of patient samples.

The new biomarker method is the outcome of a study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and partner organizations. The study is known as the Clinical Proteomic Technology Assessment for Cancer (CPTAC).

CPTAC sheds light on new technologies that may help doctors more easily detect cancer in its earliest stages. Such a success is expected to dramatically improve the survival rates of cancer patients.

Presently, discovering valid biomarkers is a time-consuming process that requires researchers to sift through hundred of potential biomarkers in order to find the ones that are the most indicative of cancer over a broad group of patients. This requires researchers to look at a high volume of candidates - a process that cannot only be lengthy, but sometimes inaccurate as well.

Under the new method, researchers utilize multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) technology and stable isotope dilution mass spectrometry (SID-MS). These technologies are used in preclinical studies to identify whether or not changes in biomarkers can be linked to the presence or stage of a disease.

In short, the technology is expected to streamline the process from biomarker discovery to clinical validation. Such an accomplishment would dramatically improve the timeline for viable biomarker identification, and ultimately could help save thousands of lives through early cancer detection.

Related: Proteomics and cancer

Earlier story on biomarkers

Source: National Cancer Institute

News

Resources

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here

If you would like to receive a FREE information packet or have questions about mesothelioma, call us at:

Toll-Free 1-877-367-6376