Immune Response as a Biomarker for Cancer Detection and a Lot More

In 2000, the American Cancer Society inaugurated a yearly report on guidelines for cancer detection. The latest update, published in 2005,1 is identical to the previous versions in its recommendation regarding screening techniques that have not changed in decades. An especially striking feature of the recommendations is the continued absence of any mention of laboratory tests that should be readily available, considering the explosion of knowledge in cancer biology, molecular biology, genetics, and immunology. The scientific literature is full of articles heralding the potential of genomics,2 proteomics,3 metabolomics,4 and other “omics” for the improvement of the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis . . .