Cancer biomarkers are biomolecules that can be used for screening, early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, or predicting treatment outcomes for cancer. Biomarkers can indicate the presence of disease, disease progression, or a patient's response to therapy. Examples discussed include VEGF-R2, which can be used as a molecular biomarker for brain tumors through molecular MRI, and mutations in the FLT3 gene that serve as a prognostic biomarker for poor survival and treatment response in leukemia patients. miRNAs like Let-7, which regulates the Ras protein, may also serve as biomarkers for cancers like lung cancer.

1. CANCER BIOMARKERS
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2. INTRODUCTION
■ Biomarkers are “Any measurable diagnostic indicator that is used to assess the risk or presence of
disease” as defined by the US FDA.
■ Cancer biomarkers (CB) are biomolecules produced either by the tumor cells or by other cells of
the body in response to the tumor, and could be used as screening/early detection tool of cancer,
diagnostic, prognostic, or predictor for the overall outcome of a patient.

3. TYPES OF CANCER BIOMARKERS

4. APPLICATIONS OF CANCER BIOMARKERS
• Prognosis of disease progression
• Prediction of response to therapy
• Monitoring of response to therapy

5. VEGF-R2 as Biomarker of Angiogenesis in Brain Tumors
■ The level of VEGF-R2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) is elevated during
angiogenesis .
■ Molecular MRI with an anti-VEGF-R2 probe was shown to detect in vivo VEGF-R2
levels as a molecular biomarker for gliomas (primary brain tumors).

6. Lipocalin 2 as Biomarker of Breast Cancer Progression
■ Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) promotes breast cancer progression.
■ Lcn2 is overexpressed in human breast cancer cells and upregulates mesenchymal
markers, downregulates the epithelial marker E-cadherin, and significantly increase cell
motility and invasiveness.

7. Gene Mutations as Biomarkers in Leukemia
■ Prognostic biomarkers-the point mutations in the FLT3 gene have been reported to
predict outcome in patients with AML and normal cytogenetics.
■ FLT3 mutations are considered a prognostic indicator of poor survival and response to
standard chemotherapies.

8. miRNA Biomarkers in Lung Cancer
■ Let-7 expression is lower in lung tumors than in normal lung tissue, while RAS protein
is significantly higher in lung tumors, providing a possible mechanism for let-7 in
cancer.
■ The Let-7 miRNA regulates Ras by binding to the message for Ras and likely inhibits
translation of the Ras protein.

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