Reliable Biomarkers to Identify New and Recurrent Cancer

Abstract

The breast is the most frequent site of cancer among women in both developed and in developing countries (1). Breast cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death in women from less developed countries and second most frequent (after lung cancer) among women in developed countries (1). It is increasing in incidence in the developing world due to increased life expectancy, increased urbanization and the adoption of western lifestyles (2). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Early detection in order to improve breast cancer outcome and survival remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control" (2).In 2017 approximately 41.070 U.S. women are projected to die from breast cancer (3). It is estimated that in 2011 508.000 women worldwide died of breast cancer (2). Although incidence rates are lower in developing regions than in Western Europe and North America, almost 50% of breast cancer cases and 58% of deaths occur in less developed countries (2). Breast cancer survival rates range from over 80% in many developed countries to below 40% in low-income countries (4). The low survival rates in less developed countries are due to later stage at disease presentation, as well as by the lack of adequate diagnosis and treatment facilities.Early detection is crucial to improving the survival of individuals with breast cancer, as survival is inversely related to disease stage (5). An invasive needle or surgical biopsy must be performed when an area of suspicion is identified in order to confirm the presence of malignancy, and most of these invasive biopsies will turn out to be benign (6). The development of non-invasive biomarkers that would distinguish between women with or without breast cancer is highly desirable.Twenty-one percent of all breast cancer deaths worldwide have been attributed to alcohol use, high body mass index (BMI), and physical inactivity (7). Thus, while some breast cancers may be prevented through lifestyle modification strategies, most cannot. Currently known risk factors address only a subset (up to half ) of risk for breast cancer. Biomarkers hold promise to aid breast cancer assessment. A highly predictive biomarker is stable, reproducible, sensitive, specific and easy to detect. Biomarkers can be assessed in tissue and/or body fluids. Eur J Breast Health 2017; 13: 162-7 DOI: 10.5152/ejbh.2017.3635 162 Reliable Biomarkers to Identify New and Recurrent Cancer ABSTRACTBreast cancer is the most frequent cancer detected throughout both the developing and the developed world. Its incidence is on the rise in the developing world. Great strides have been made in developing biomarkers to guide therapy for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Far fewer advances have occurred with biomarker development for the early diagnosis of breast cancer. Standard screening for new and recurrent breast cancer involves clinical breast exam and breast imaging. There are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved noninvasive body fluid tests for the early detection of new or recurrent breast cancer...

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