Risk assessment – Some biomarkers can help determine if you are at higher risk of developing a disease than the general population. For example, high cholesterol could indicate a higher risk of developing heart disease, or elevated blood sugar could correspond to a higher risk of developing diabetes. When assessing cancer risk, doctors often look at your family history and for specific genetic mutations.

For example, a BRCA (BReast CAncer gene) mutation screening evaluates your family history and looks for specific genetic mutations, which are abnormal changes found in your DNA that prevent genes from doing their jobs properly. A BRCA mutation could increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer, including breast cancer, in your lifetime. It is important to remember that an increased risk does not mean that you are guaranteed to develop the disease—it simply means that you should talk with your doctor about ways to reduce the risk and set up a plan for regular screenings.

Diagnosis and Monitoring – Doctors diagnose cancers by evaluating several different factors. These factors include determining where the tumors occur in the body, how widespread they are, what they look like on medical imaging, and sometimes what symptoms they may be causing. More and more, doctors are able to look for the presence of specific proteins, gene mutations, or other substances to help understand how the disease may progress.

These diagnostic biomarkers can be used to help you and your medical team better understand your cancer and how it changes in response to therapy. Some cancers, such as breast and lung, have a variety of diagnostic biomarkers, while others, like pancreatic cancer, have few or none. SU2C supports research to find and develop new diagnostic biomarkers, especially in difficult-to-treat cancers.