Feature Reviews in Cancer Biomarkers

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Biology and Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 10491

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
Interests: anti-cancer mechanisms of organo-selenium compounds; cancer biomarkers; chemoprevention; cancer therapy; dietary manipulations; inflammation; systems biology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biomarkers are biological molecules found in the blood and other body fluids or in tissues as well, and reflect signs of normal or abnormal processes and conditions or diseases. Biomarkers can include proteins (e.g., an enzyme or a receptor), nucleic acids (e.g., a microRNA, other noncoding RNA or DNA), antibodies and peptides, among other categories. In addition, biomarkers can also be present as altered gene expressions, proteomic profiles and/or metabolomic signatures.

Biomarkers have many potential applications in oncology, including risk assessment, screening, diagnosis, the determination of prognoses, prediction of responses to treatment and monitoring cancer progression. An early detection and diagnosis of cancer can allow for a timely medical intervention, greatly improving the chances of survival; therefore, novel approaches for discovering potential cancer biomarkers would play a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

This Special Issue welcomes up-to-date review articles addressing current research on cancer biomarkers, with a special focus on approaches for discovering novel cancer biomarkers.

Dr. Raghu Sinha
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cancer biomarkers
  • miRNA, RNA, DNA
  • cell-free biomarkers
  • saliva, serum, plasma
  • circulating tumor cells
  • immune phenotypes
  • inflammation
  • metabolites
  • diagnosis
  • prognosis

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Review

23 pages, 1651 KiB  
Review
Functions of Differentially Regulated miRNAs in Breast Cancer Progression: Potential Markers for Early Detection and Candidates for Therapy
by Kumar Subramanian and Raghu Sinha
Biomedicines 2024, 12(3), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12030691 - 20 Mar 2024
Viewed by 841
Abstract
Breast cancer remains a major global health concern, emphasizing the need for reliable biomarkers to enhance early detection and therapeutic interventions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved small non-coding RNA (~22 nt in length) molecules, which are aberrantly expressed in cancer and seem to [...] Read more.
Breast cancer remains a major global health concern, emphasizing the need for reliable biomarkers to enhance early detection and therapeutic interventions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved small non-coding RNA (~22 nt in length) molecules, which are aberrantly expressed in cancer and seem to influence tumor behavior and progression. Specific miRNA dysregulation has been associated with breast cancer initiation, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Understanding the functional roles of these miRNAs provides valuable insights into the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying breast cancer progression. The diagnostic potential of miRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for early breast cancer detection is a burgeoning area of research. This review aims to elucidate the functions of differentially regulated miRNAs in breast cancer progression and assess their potential as markers for early detection, stage-specific biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. Furthermore, the ability of specific miRNAs to serve as prognostic indicators and predictors of treatment response highlights their potential clinical utility in guiding personalized therapeutic interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Reviews in Cancer Biomarkers)
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17 pages, 1081 KiB  
Review
Predictive Value and Therapeutic Significance of Somatic BRCA Mutation in Solid Tumors
by Gyongyver Szentmartoni, Dorottya Mühl, Renata Csanda, Attila Marcell Szasz, Zoltan Herold and Magdolna Dank
Biomedicines 2024, 12(3), 593; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12030593 - 6 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1049
Abstract
Ten percent of patients with breast cancer, and probably somewhat more in patients with ovarian cancer, have inherited germline DNA mutations in the breast and ovarian cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. In the remaining cases, the disease is caused by acquired somatic [...] Read more.
Ten percent of patients with breast cancer, and probably somewhat more in patients with ovarian cancer, have inherited germline DNA mutations in the breast and ovarian cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. In the remaining cases, the disease is caused by acquired somatic genetic and epigenetic alterations. Targeted therapeutic agents, such as poly ADP-ribose polymerases (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi), have emerged in treating cancers associated with germline BRCA mutations since 2014. The first PARPi was FDA-approved initially for ovarian cancer patients with germline BRCA mutations. Deleterious variants in the BRCA1/BRCA2 genes and homologous recombination deficiency status have been strong predictors of response to PARPi in a few solid tumors since then. However, the relevance of somatic BRCA mutations is less clear. Somatic BRCA-mutated tumors might also respond to this new class of therapeutics. Although the related literature is often controversial, recently published case reports and/or randomized studies demonstrated the effectiveness of PARPi in treating patients with somatic BRCA mutations. The aim of this review is to summarize the predictive role of somatic BRCA mutations and to provide further assistance for clinicians with the identification of patients who could potentially benefit from PARPi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Reviews in Cancer Biomarkers)
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20 pages, 382 KiB  
Review
Current and Emerging Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Predictive Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer
by Hänel W. Eberly, Bao Y. Sciscent, F. Jeffrey Lorenz, Eleni M. Rettig and Neerav Goyal
Biomedicines 2024, 12(2), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12020415 - 10 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1152
Abstract
Head and neck cancers (HNC) are a biologically diverse set of cancers that are responsible for over 660,000 new diagnoses each year. Current therapies for HNC require a comprehensive, multimodal approach encompassing resection, radiation therapy, and systemic therapy. With an increased understanding of [...] Read more.
Head and neck cancers (HNC) are a biologically diverse set of cancers that are responsible for over 660,000 new diagnoses each year. Current therapies for HNC require a comprehensive, multimodal approach encompassing resection, radiation therapy, and systemic therapy. With an increased understanding of the mechanisms behind HNC, there has been growing interest in more accurate prognostic indicators of disease, effective post-treatment surveillance, and individualized treatments. This chapter will highlight the commonly used and studied biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Reviews in Cancer Biomarkers)
38 pages, 1413 KiB  
Review
The Potential of Extracellular Matrix- and Integrin Adhesion Complex-Related Molecules for Prostate Cancer Biomarker Discovery
by Ivana Samaržija
Biomedicines 2024, 12(1), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12010079 - 28 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1134
Abstract
Prostate cancer is among the top five cancer types according to incidence and mortality. One of the main obstacles in prostate cancer management is the inability to foresee its course, which ranges from slow growth throughout years that requires minimum or no intervention [...] Read more.
Prostate cancer is among the top five cancer types according to incidence and mortality. One of the main obstacles in prostate cancer management is the inability to foresee its course, which ranges from slow growth throughout years that requires minimum or no intervention to highly aggressive disease that spreads quickly and resists treatment. Therefore, it is not surprising that numerous studies have attempted to find biomarkers of prostate cancer occurrence, risk stratification, therapy response, and patient outcome. However, only a few prostate cancer biomarkers are used in clinics, which shows how difficult it is to find a novel biomarker. Cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) through integrins is among the essential processes that govern its fate. Upon activation and ligation, integrins form multi-protein intracellular structures called integrin adhesion complexes (IACs). In this review article, the focus is put on the biomarker potential of the ECM- and IAC-related molecules stemming from both body fluids and prostate cancer tissue. The processes that they are involved in, such as tumor stiffening, bone turnover, and communication via exosomes, and their biomarker potential are also reviewed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Reviews in Cancer Biomarkers)
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30 pages, 853 KiB  
Review
Diagnosis of Carcinogenic Pathologies through Breath Biomarkers: Present and Future Trends
by Valentina Vassilenko, Pedro Catalão Moura and Maria Raposo
Biomedicines 2023, 11(11), 3029; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11113029 - 11 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1528
Abstract
The assessment of volatile breath biomarkers has been targeted with a lot of interest by the scientific and medical communities during the past decades due to their suitability for an accurate, painless, non-invasive, and rapid diagnosis of health states and pathological conditions. This [...] Read more.
The assessment of volatile breath biomarkers has been targeted with a lot of interest by the scientific and medical communities during the past decades due to their suitability for an accurate, painless, non-invasive, and rapid diagnosis of health states and pathological conditions. This paper reviews the most relevant bibliographic sources aiming to gather the most pertinent volatile organic compounds (VOCs) already identified as putative cancer biomarkers. Here, a total of 265 VOCs and the respective bibliographic sources are addressed regarding their scientifically proven suitability to diagnose a total of six carcinogenic diseases, namely lung, breast, gastric, colorectal, prostate, and squamous cell (oesophageal and laryngeal) cancers. In addition, future trends in the identification of five other forms of cancer, such as bladder, liver, ovarian, pancreatic, and thyroid cancer, through perspective volatile breath biomarkers are equally presented and discussed. All the results already achieved in the detection, identification, and quantification of endogenous metabolites produced by all kinds of normal and abnormal processes in the human body denote a promising and auspicious future for this alternative diagnostic tool, whose future passes by the development and employment of newer and more accurate collection and analysis techniques, and the certification for utilisation in real clinical scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Reviews in Cancer Biomarkers)
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22 pages, 3826 KiB  
Review
Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Origin to Clinical Diagnosis
by Mona A. Omar, Mohamed M. Omran, Khaled Farid, Ashraf A. Tabll, Yasser E. Shahein, Tarek M. Emran, Ana Petrovic, Nikola R. Lucic, Robert Smolic, Tanja Kovac and Martina Smolic
Biomedicines 2023, 11(7), 1852; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11071852 - 28 Jun 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3639
Abstract
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and HCC-related deaths has increased over the last few decades. There are several risk factors of HCC such as viral hepatitis (B, C), cirrhosis, tobacco and alcohol use, aflatoxin-contaminated food, pesticides, diabetes, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [...] Read more.
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and HCC-related deaths has increased over the last few decades. There are several risk factors of HCC such as viral hepatitis (B, C), cirrhosis, tobacco and alcohol use, aflatoxin-contaminated food, pesticides, diabetes, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and metabolic and genetic diseases. Diagnosis of HCC is based on different methods such as imaging ultrasonography (US), multiphasic enhanced computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and several diagnostic biomarkers. In this review, we examine the epidemiology of HCC worldwide and in Egypt as well as risk factors associated with the development of HCC and, finally, provide the updated diagnostic biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC, particularly in the early stages of HCC. Several biomarkers are considered to diagnose HCC, including downregulated or upregulated protein markers secreted during HCC development, circulating nucleic acids or cells, metabolites, and the promising, recently identified biomarkers based on quantitative proteomics through the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). In addition, a diagnostic model used to improve the sensitivity of combined biomarkers for the diagnosis of early HCC is discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Reviews in Cancer Biomarkers)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Role of proteomics to study EBV associated cancers
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