[Frontiers in Bioscience E4, 865-875, January 1, 2012]

Molecular biomarkers of lung carcinoma

Bozica Vrabec Branica1, Srecko Gajovic2

1Department of Pathology and Cytology, University Hospital of Zagreb, Jordanovac 104, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, 2 University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Salata 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Types of lung carcinoma molecular biomarkers
3.1. DNA-based lung carcinoma molecular biomarkers
3.1.1. Genetic biomarkers
3.1.2. Epigenetic biomarkers
3.1.3. Chromosomal changes
3.2. RNA-based lug carcinoma biomarkers
3.3. Protein-based lung carcinoma biomarkers
3.4. Metabolomics
4. Applications of lung carcinoma molecular biomarkers
4.1. Lung carcinoma molecular biomarkers in detection of precancerous lesions and early carcinomas
4.2. Lung carcinoma molecular biomarkers as potential therapeutic targets
5. Lung carcinoma molecular biomarkers in various specimens
6. Various technologies in lung carcinoma molecular biomarkers
7. Our experience in PCR applications for detection of lung carcinoma biomarkers in cytology specimens
8. Perspective
9. Acknowledgements
10. References

1. ABSTRACT

Lung carcinoma is still the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women. There is a constantly increasing need to find molecular biomarkers for lung cancer which can be used for risk stratification, early detection, treatment selection, prognosis and monitoring for recurrence. Recent advances in imaging and improved bronchoscopic techniques have intensified interest in lung carcinoma screening techniques, especially in new molecular markers which can help cytopathologists to make a definitive diagnosis on very small specimens in non-invasive, non-expensive, simple and efficient manner. Several decades of intensive research have originated numerous potential lung carcinoma molecular biomarkers but only few turned out to be useful in clinic. The review describes types of biomarkers, sources and techniques for their identification in cancer diagnosis and therapy. A deep understanding of each biomarker will be a key to efficiently diagnose lung carcinomas and direct patients toward beneficial drugs based on individual patient profile.