Biomarkers Articles

Prostate cancer remains among the most commonly diagnosed malignancies worldwide in men. In patients with low-risk prostate cancer, the risk of metastasis and mortality is very low; therefore, a tumor surveillance strategy can be used.

Urothelial carcinomas are the fourth leading cause of cancer in humans. Their incidence is increasing by more than 50% in 25 years. The superficial forms (70% cases) require a close active surveillance to identify frequent recurrences and progression to invasive stage.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis (SCCP) is a rare cancer type in Western industrialized nations; nevertheless, it shows an aggressive course of disease in advanced tumor stages with accordantly high recurrence and progression rates.

To obtain the information about functional state of kidneys in patients with urolithiasis before and after treatment, as well as to study the damaging effect of different types of energy used for fragmentation of high-density stones.

To validate the 17-gene Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score® (GPSTM) biopsy-based gene expression assay as a predictor of adverse pathology (AP, Gleason score [pGS] ≥ 4+3 and/or ≥ pT3) in a prospectively enrolled cohort.

Assess patient-level utility of suggested pretreatment biomarkers of sunitinib in advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Kaplan-Meier analysis of data from a randomized, Phase II study (n = 292) suggested baseline predictive value for circulating soluble Ang-2 and MMP-2 and HIF-1α percentage of tumor expression.

Hormone-naïve prostate cancer and its castration-resistant state (CRPC) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous diseases. From initiation of prostate carcinogenesis to its evolution towards therapeutic resistance, various combinations of genetic and epigenetic events occur.

A number of urine and blood-based biomarker tests have been described for prostate cancer, although to date there has only been a limited exploration of the methodology behind the validation studies that underpin these tests.

The aim of this study was to analyze tumour gene expression profiles of progressive and non-progressive T1G3 bladder cancer (BC) patients to develop a gene expression signature to predict tumour progression.

Background: Unnecessary biopsies and overdiagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) remain a serious healthcare problem. We have previously shown that urine- and plasma-based prostate-specific biomarkers when combined can predict high grade prostate cancer (PCa).

Bladder cancer is a very heterogeneous disease as regards natural history. Environmental exposures, constitutional genetic and/or epigenetic background may affect not only the likelihood of bladder tumor occurrence, but also the histologic type of cancer and its outcome.

Effective biomarkers and models are needed to improve the prognostic prospects of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). The purpose of this work was to identify DNA methylation biomarkers and to evaluate the utility of DNA methylation analysis for ccRCC prognosis.

To analyze the potential of 14 cancer-associated genes, including six miRNAs, for bladder cancer (BC) diagnosis in urine.

DNA methylation levels of 14 genes were analyzed in urine of 72 BC patients and 75 healthy controls using quantitative methylation-specific PCR.

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have increased risk for disease progression, cardiovascular events, and impairments in quality of life. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a randomized walking group intervention to improve quality of life, circulating biomarkers, and morbidity among men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) -

A plethora of individual candidate biomarkers for predicting PSA relapse in localized prostate cancer (PCa) have been proposed. Combined biomarkers may improve prognostication, and ensuring validation against more clinically relevant endpoints are required.

One of the major challenges of personalized oncology lies in identifying predictive biomarkers of response to therapy that are practical in the clinical setting. Although many new targeted and immune-based treatments have emerged in recent years as effective systemic therapy options in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), optimizing the selection and sequencing of treatments for any individual patient with this disease remains a significant challenge.

Research on prostate cancer has extensively advanced in the past decade, through an improved understanding for its genetic basis and risk-stratification. Molecular classification of prostate cancer into distinct subtypes and the recognition of new histologic entities promise the development of tailored-made management strategies of patients.

Immunotherapy with programmed cell death 1/ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) checkpoint inhibitors has expanded a previously limited pool of effective treatment options for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma, particularly those with recurring or refractory disease and those who are ineligible for cisplatin.

The electronic nose is able to provide useful information through the analysis of the volatile organic compounds in body fluids, such as exhaled breath, urine and blood. This paper focuses on the review of electronic nose studies and applications in the specific field of medical diagnostics based on the analysis of the gaseous headspace of human urine, in order to provide a broad overview of the state of the art and thus enhance future developments in this field.

Prostate cancer presents itself in a heterogeneous way with both aggressive and indolent forms. Despite the controversy surrounding its use, prostate-specific antigen screening ultimately leads to a greater number of diagnosed patients.

Metastasis is a process consisting of cells spreading from the primary site of the cancer to distant parts of the body. Our understanding of this spread is limited and molecular mechanisms causing particular characteristics of metastasis are still unknown.

To propose and validate a new approach to stratify clinically staged organ-confined muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients (cT2N0M0) that are pathologic non-responders to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) to better characterize NAC non-response.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic role of metallothionein-2A (MT-2A), E-cadherin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclin-E, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and B cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 in the biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer (PCa) using tissue microarray immunostaining.

Metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) remains an aggressive disease associated with limited treatment options and a reduced survival. In spite of this, the first-line treatment based on platinum-based combinations has remained virtually unchanged for the last 20-30 years.

The 2019 European Association of Urology guidelines recommend multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for biopsy-naïve patients with clinical suspicion of prostate cancer (PC) and avoiding biopsy in patients with negative mpMRI and low clinical suspicion.

The 2016 Coffey-Holden Prostate Cancer Academy (CHPCA) Meeting, "Beyond Seed and Soil: Understanding and Targeting Metastatic Prostate Cancer," was held from June 23 to June 26, 2016, in Coronado, California.

BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - Despite its high prevalence and economic burden, there is still no cure for overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome or objective tests for its diagnosis.

BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - Circulating tumor cells (CTC) in prostate cancer represent a new so-called biomarker.

BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - Prostate cancer is a disease with a 5-year relative survival rate of nearly 100% and a 10-year relative survival rate of over 90% in the U.S.

BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - Although results with antiangiogenics did not show positive overall survival, a rationale still exists for the study of the angiogenic pathway.

BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - Can the metabolomic and proteomice profiling of biological samples produce a biomarker for bladder or other cancers?

BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) -

Investigations of the role of (-2)ProPSA serum and DNA content Biomarker to Predict Failure Among Active Surveillance Prostate Cancer Patients.

BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common renal malignancy showing an increasing incidence with the highest mortality of urogenital malignancies.^[1]

BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) -

Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-targeted Imaging and Therapy of Prostate Cancer

Recent studies focused on the molecular characterization of metastatic prostate cancer have identified genomic subsets and emerging resistance patterns. Detection of these alterations in patients has potential implications for therapy selection and prognostication.

Metabolic toxicities of mTOR inhibitors (mTORi) are well characterized. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between these metabolic toxicities and mTORi efficacy.

From 2007 to 2011, metabolic toxicities were retrospectively collected in patients treated with an mTORi (everolimus, temsirolimus) for a metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in a single institution.

The bulk of the literature on kidney cancer in African Americans comes from population-based studies of incidence and survival over varying periods of time using databases from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Prostate cancer (PCa) has variable biological potential with multiple treatment options. A more personalized approach, therefore, is needed to better define men at higher risk of developing PCa, discriminate indolent from aggressive disease and improve risk stratification after treatment by predicting the likelihood of progression.

The use of active surveillance (AS) is increasing for favorable-risk prostate cancer. However, there remain challenges in patient selection for AS, due to the limitations of current clinical staging.

Over the last decade, the improvement in molecular techniques and the acquisition of genomic information has transformed and increased the quality of patient care and our knowledge of diseases. Areas covered: Protein expression levels in immunohistochemistry and molecular biomarkers are reported for their ability to predict recurrence, progression, development of metastases, or patient survival.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the PD-1 pathway have greatly changed clinical management of metastatic urothelial carcinoma and metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, response rates are low, and biomarkers are needed to predict for treatment response.

Diagnostic methods currently used for bladder cancer are cystoscopy and urine cytology. Cystoscopy is an invasive tool and has low sensitivity for carcinoma in situ. Urine cytology is non-invasive, is a low-cost method, and has a high specificity but low sensitivity for low-grade urothelial tumors.

With the mechanistic understanding of immune checkpoints and success in checkpoint blockade using antibodies for the treatment of certain cancers, immunotherapy has become one of the hottest areas in cancer research, with promise of long-lasting therapeutic effect.

The T-box transcription factor Brachyury has been considered a cancer-specific marker and a novel oncotarget in solid tumors. Brachyury overexpression has been described in various cancers, being associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and poor prognosis.

Atorvastatin and metformin are known energy restricting mimetic agents that act synergistically to produce molecular and metabolic changes in advanced prostate cancer (PCa). This trial seeks to determine whether these drugs favourably alter selected parameters in men with clinically-localized, aggressive PCa.

Current guidelines recommend cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to radical cystectomy as the preferred treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Nevertheless, for multiple reasons compliance with this guideline recommendation is low.

A clinical dilemma in the management of prostate cancer (PCa) is to distinguish men with aggressive disease who need definitive treatment from men who may not require immediate intervention. Accurate prediction of disease behavior is critical because radical treatment is associated with high morbidity.

While histopathological evaluation remains the gold standard for diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa), sampling errors remain a frequent problem; therefore, use of tissue biomarkers that can distinguish between benign and malignant prostate disease is a potentially beneficial diagnostic strategy.