Proteomics and translational medicine: molecular biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of therapy outcome.

摘要

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Cancer biomarkers are the key to positive and long-lasting outcomes; they can reduce the suffering and cost to society associated with the disease. The high burden of malignancy worldwide underscores the unmet potential of biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of treatment response. There is a pressing need for novel strategies to discover cancer biomarkers and translate molecular diagnostics from the bench to the bedside [1,2].Recent technological advances in bio-medical research have made it easier to identify many molecular biomarkers that may potentially improve cancer screening and detection, advance the drug development process, and enhance the effectiveness and safety of cancer care by allowing physicians to tailor treatment for individual patients [3]. Proteomics is a promising technology for the identification of biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for cancers. Rapid progress in oncoproteomics has opened new avenues for tumor-associated biomarker discovery [4].