Biomarkers (short for biological markers) are biological measures of a biological state. By definition, a biomarker is "a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes or pharmacological responses to a therapeutic intervention." Examples of biomarkers include everything from pulse and blood pressure through basic chemistries to more complex laboratory tests of blood and other tissues. Biomarkers are useful in a number of ways, including measuring the progress of disease, evaluating the most effective therapeutic regimes for a particular
cancer type, and establishing long-term susceptibility to
cancer or its recurrence. The parameter can be chemical, physical or biological. Biomarkers may be produced by the
cancer tissue itself or by other
cells in the body in response to cancer. They can be found in the blood, stool, urine,
tumor tissue, or other tissues or bodily fluids. Notably, biomarkers are not limited to cancer.
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