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Clinical Application of Biomarkers in Cancers
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Clinical Application of Biomarkers in Cancers

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Laboratory Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2025 | Viewed by 3725

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Monica Florescu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 40268 Brasov, Romania
Interests: diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker investigation; laboratory medicine; novel clinical molecular diagnostic methods development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The clinical application of biomarkers in cancer represents a rapidly evolving field that offers significant potential for improving diagnosis, prognosis and treatment strategies. Biomarkers, which can be genetic, proteomic or metabolic indicators, provide critical insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying various cancers. It is important to discuss key biomarkers in major cancers, highlighting their clinical utility. Additionally, exploring the integration of advanced technologies can demonstrate how these innovations improve biomarker discovery and application. Addressing the challenges related to biomarker validation, regulatory approval and clinical implementation, as well as the development of new detection methods, is also crucial.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight recent advances in the current landscape of cancer biomarkers, emphasizing their role in early detection, personalized therapy and monitoring disease progression. We encourage colleagues to share their scientific achievements through original research and review manuscripts that underscore the transformative impact of biomarkers in oncology, paving the way for more targeted and effective cancer care. Review articles should provide an up-to-date, state-of-the-art overview of the areas covered.

Please feel free to contact us and send us suggestions that you would like to discuss beforehand. We look forward to your contribution and welcome your participation in this Special Issue.

Dr. Monica Florescu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cancer biomarkers
  • early detection
  • personalized therapy
  • biomarker validation
  • advanced technologies
  • clinical implementation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 904 KiB  
Article
Large Unstained Cells (LUC): A Novel Predictor of CDK4/6 Inhibitor Outcomes in HR+ HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer
by Furkan Ceylan, Mirmehdi Mehdiyev, Didem Şener Dede, Safa Can Efil, Ateş Kutay Tenekeci, Burak Bilgin, Şebnem Yücel, Hayriye Tatlı Doğan, Mehmet Ali Nahit Şendur, Muhammed Bülent Akıncı, Doğan Uncu and Bülent Yalçın
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(1), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14010173 - 31 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1407
Abstract
Background: Although CDK4/6 inhibitors combined with endocrine therapies have improved outcomes in HR+ HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, predictive biomarkers for treatment response and adverse effects remain limited. This study assessed the prognostic and predictive value of large unstained cells (LUC), a subset [...] Read more.
Background: Although CDK4/6 inhibitors combined with endocrine therapies have improved outcomes in HR+ HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, predictive biomarkers for treatment response and adverse effects remain limited. This study assessed the prognostic and predictive value of large unstained cells (LUC), a subset of white blood cells that may reflect immune status or treatment response. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 210 patients with HR+ HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer treated with CDK 4/6 inhibitors between 2021 and 2024 was conducted. Clinical data, including demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment regimens, were analyzed. Based on LUC levels, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events were evaluated. Results: The cohort had a median age of 57, of which 78% were postmenopausal. Common metastatic sites included bone (67%) and liver (24%). At a median follow-up of 18.5 months, the PFS and OS rates were 65% and 83%. Patients with low LUC levels had significantly shorter PFS (OR: 1.91; p = 0.014) and OS (OR: 2.39; p = 0.012), while high LUC levels correlated with a lower incidence of grade 3 neutropenia (OR: 0.49; p = 0.017). Liver metastasis and prior treatments were also linked to shorter survival. Conclusions: LUC levels emerge as a promising biomarker for predicting survival outcomes and the risk of neutropenia in HR+ HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients treated with CDK 4/6 inhibitors and endocrine therapy, showing their potential to guide personalized treatment approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Application of Biomarkers in Cancers)
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13 pages, 1688 KiB  
Article
Serum Calcium Level at Diagnosis Can Predict Lethal Prostate Cancer Relapse
by Zsolt Fekete, Patricia Ignat, Henrietta Jakab, Nicolae Todor, István Péter László, Alina-Simona Muntean, Sebastian Curcean, Adina Nemeș, Dumitrița Nuțu and Gabriel Kacsó
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(16), 4845; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13164845 - 16 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1292
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The most important prognostic factors in curatively treated prostate cancer are T and N stage, histology, grade group and initial PSA. A recent study found that men with blood calcium levels at the high end of the normal range are over [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The most important prognostic factors in curatively treated prostate cancer are T and N stage, histology, grade group and initial PSA. A recent study found that men with blood calcium levels at the high end of the normal range are over two-and-a-half times more likely to develop fatal prostate cancer than those with lower calcium levels. However, there is limited evidence regarding the prognostic value of calcium levels at the time of prostate cancer diagnosis. We aimed to determine whether a calcium level in the upper range of normal values has any prognostic value in curatively treated prostate cancer. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 84 consecutive patients with prostate cancer who underwent curative-intent radiotherapy—either as primary treatment or adjuvant therapy—using external beam radiotherapy with or without brachytherapy. We analyzed all pertinent prognostic factors that could potentially impact disease-free survival. Results: The study revealed that calcium levels at diagnosis significantly predict disease-free survival, whereas the initial PSA level did not hold prognostic significance—likely due to interference from benign prostatic hyperplasia. Conclusions: If our findings are validated, calcium levels at the time of prostate cancer diagnosis could be incorporated into future predictive and prognostic models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Application of Biomarkers in Cancers)
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Review

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12 pages, 604 KiB  
Review
Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA): Origin, Role in Oncology, and Concentrations in Serum and Peritoneal Fluid
by Julia Niedzielska and Tomasz Jastrzębski
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(9), 3189; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14093189 - 5 May 2025
Viewed by 368
Abstract
CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen), which belongs to the acidic glycoproteins, is primarily produced during the fetal period. Following this stage, low levels of CEA are considered physiological, while elevated concentrations are associated with a range of both benign and malignant pathologies. The liver plays [...] Read more.
CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen), which belongs to the acidic glycoproteins, is primarily produced during the fetal period. Following this stage, low levels of CEA are considered physiological, while elevated concentrations are associated with a range of both benign and malignant pathologies. The liver plays a key role in CEA metabolism. The most common material used to determine CEA concentrations by various techniques is blood, and measuring CEA in peritoneal fluid holds clinical value. CEA has been found to contribute to carcinogenesis, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Therefore, its serum concentration is widely used in oncology for prognosis, disease monitoring, and recurrence detection, despite its limited sensitivity and specificity, which prevent it from serving as a standalone diagnostic tool. Elevated serum CEA levels are linked to worse outcomes in lung, liver, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. Imaging and multi-marker panels that include CEA enhance diagnostic accuracy, but its role remains context-dependent and varies by cancer type. CEA levels in peritoneal fluid have been explored as a potential marker for detecting malignancy and predicting recurrence, particularly in gastric, gynecological, and colorectal cancers. Peritoneal fluid CEA has also been proven useful in differentiating the etiology of ascites. While cytology remains the standard for the detection of tumor cells in body fluids, its limited sensitivity provides a strong rationale for incorporating peritoneal fluid CEA measurements as a complementary diagnostic tool, potentially alongside other markers. Additionally, the lack of standardized measurement techniques and cut-off values underlines the methodological challenges that still need to be addressed in future research for both serum and peritoneal CEA levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Application of Biomarkers in Cancers)
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