biomarkers

(American Association for Cancer Research) Pilot study results suggest that difluoromethylornithine can modulate biomarkers of cell proliferation in patients with Barrett's esophagus and mucosal dysplasia.

Scientists have developed a system which can pinpoint potential "biomarkers" of early forms of cancer, by looking at structures of specific sugar molecules which are attached either to proteins of cancerous cells or to proteins involved in the host response.

The availability of such cancer biomarkers could also allow disease progression and response to therapy to be monitored more easily and accurately than is currently possible.

(UT Southwestern Medical Center) A simple blood test may help doctors better predict whether prostate cancer will recur or spread in patients who have undergone surgery for the disease, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

Researchers have identified a panel of proteins linked to early development of pancreatic cancer in mice that applies also to early stages of the disease in humans -- a breakthrough that brings scientists a significant step closer to developing a blood test to detect the disease early, when cure rates are highest.

Girls and children who have asthma and are exposed to tobacco smoke respond particularly well to montelukast (Singulair), a new study shows.

Researchers also identified two biomarkers that may help physicians predict even more precisely which patients will benefit from montelukast.

New data suggest the potential of a significant impact of using biomarkers to reduce the need for biopsies and personalize transplant patient care.

Non-invasive testing using gene-based blood or urine could offer transplant patients personalized care and medication and may replace the need for costly, invasive biopsy procedures that can be risky for patients.