Sputum-Based Molecular Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer: Limitations and Promise
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, with an overall survival of 15% at five years. Biomarkers that can sensitively and specifically detect lung cancer at early stage are crucial for improving this poor survival rate. Sputum has been the target for the discovery of non-invasive biomark...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2011-07-01
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Series: | Cancers |
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Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/3/3/2975/ |
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author | William N. Rom Kam-Meng Tchou-Wong Connie E. Kim |
author_facet | William N. Rom Kam-Meng Tchou-Wong Connie E. Kim |
author_sort | William N. Rom |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, with an overall survival of 15% at five years. Biomarkers that can sensitively and specifically detect lung cancer at early stage are crucial for improving this poor survival rate. Sputum has been the target for the discovery of non-invasive biomarkers for lung cancer because it contains airway epithelial cells, and molecular alterations identified in sputum are most likely to reflect tumor-associated changes or field cancerization caused by smoking in the lung. Sputum-based molecular biomarkers include morphology, allelic imbalance, promoter hypermethylation, gene mutations and, recently, differential miRNA expression. To improve the sensitivity and reproducibility of sputum-based biomarkers, we recommend standardization of processing protocols, bronchial epithelial cell enrichment, and identification of field cancerization biomarkers. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:02:10Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-d8adaa9494394609aeb8cb7830846484 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2072-6694 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:02:10Z |
publishDate | 2011-07-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Cancers |
spelling | doaj.art-d8adaa9494394609aeb8cb78308464842023-09-02T15:38:36ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942011-07-01332975298910.3390/cancers3032975Sputum-Based Molecular Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer: Limitations and PromiseWilliam N. RomKam-Meng Tchou-WongConnie E. KimLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, with an overall survival of 15% at five years. Biomarkers that can sensitively and specifically detect lung cancer at early stage are crucial for improving this poor survival rate. Sputum has been the target for the discovery of non-invasive biomarkers for lung cancer because it contains airway epithelial cells, and molecular alterations identified in sputum are most likely to reflect tumor-associated changes or field cancerization caused by smoking in the lung. Sputum-based molecular biomarkers include morphology, allelic imbalance, promoter hypermethylation, gene mutations and, recently, differential miRNA expression. To improve the sensitivity and reproducibility of sputum-based biomarkers, we recommend standardization of processing protocols, bronchial epithelial cell enrichment, and identification of field cancerization biomarkers.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/3/3/2975/lung cancernon-small cell lung cancersputumbiomarkerearly detection |
spellingShingle | William N. Rom Kam-Meng Tchou-Wong Connie E. Kim Sputum-Based Molecular Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer: Limitations and Promise Cancers lung cancer non-small cell lung cancer sputum biomarker early detection |
title | Sputum-Based Molecular Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer: Limitations and Promise |
title_full | Sputum-Based Molecular Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer: Limitations and Promise |
title_fullStr | Sputum-Based Molecular Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer: Limitations and Promise |
title_full_unstemmed | Sputum-Based Molecular Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer: Limitations and Promise |
title_short | Sputum-Based Molecular Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer: Limitations and Promise |
title_sort | sputum based molecular biomarkers for the early detection of lung cancer limitations and promise |
topic | lung cancer non-small cell lung cancer sputum biomarker early detection |
url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/3/3/2975/ |
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