Role of Cancer Biomarkers Trend in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapeutics: A Review

One of the main causes of death worldwide is cancer, which is characterized by the body's uncontrollable cell growth and development. Based on the damaged tissue or organ in the human body, over 100 distinct forms of malignancies can be identified. Biomarkers can be categorized in several ways, including by their molecular structure (proteins such as enzymes or receptors, nucleic acids such as microRNAs and other non-coding RNAs, antibodies, and peptides), the type of cancer they are linked to (e.g., BRCA1 for breast and ovarian cancer, KRAS for colorectal cancer, CA125 for ovarian cancer, AFP and PIVKA-II for liver cancer, and PSA for prostate cancer), or the detection technique used (e.g., liquid biopsy, imaging, or biosensorbased platforms such as aptasensors and immunosensors). These classifications provide a systematic framework for understanding how biomarkers contribute to prognosis, treatment monitoring, and early diagnosis. Using key research approaches such as high-throughput sequencing, proteomic methodologies (mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS, and MALDI-MS), and gene expression arrays, distinct biomarkers or pools of biomarkers that differ between groups can be rapidly identified. BRCA1 is one biomarker that may increase the risk of breast or ovarian cancer. One commonly used screening method for the identification of prostate cancer is prostate-specific antigen (PSA). KRAS serves as a prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer, while HER2 overexpression is associated with gastric and breast cancers. To identify cancer biomarkers, a variety of biorecognition components are employed, including proteins, DNA, enzymes, aptamers, and others. Depending on the biorecognition element employed, biosensors can be classified as immunosensors, aptasensors, enzymatic biosensors, or nucleic acid biosensors. This review primarily focuses on the role of biomarkers, their importance, and how they can be assessed in the body.