Quo vadis, biomarkers?

摘要

The unprecedented progress of medical therapy over the last few decades is associated with the advancement of understanding of molecular mechanisms of human diseases. Laboratory medicine is an integral part of this effort as it is not only instrumental in studies that are defining molecular bases of different disorders, but also provides biomarkers that aid the selection of treatment for individual patients [1]. In fact, the entire concept of patient-tailored therapy would not be possible without simultaneous advances of research on biomarkers. Yet both the development of new therapies and new biomarkers is still lagging behind the demands of a society plagued by an epidemic of chronic incurable disorders.