Biomarkers in Drug Discovery and Disease Diagnosis

A biological marker or biomarker is a measurable indicator of a biological state or condition. Biomarkers are evaluated to investigate pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention or to examine biological and pathogenic processes. In medicine, a biomarker may be used to examine organ function or other health aspects. They can be prognostic or predictive. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a common biomarker that is used in medicine. Biomarkers are used in the molecular diagnosis of colon, breast and lung cancer, melanoma and chronic myeloid leukemia. Effective and robust biomarkers can be instrumental in improving diagnosis of diseases, monitoring drug activity and guiding the development of targeted therapies for varied chronic conditions. This book is compiled in such a manner, that it will provide in-depth knowledge about biomarkers. It aims to present researches that have advanced the understanding of biomarkers and their role in drug discovery and disease diagnosis. The readers would gain knowledge that would broaden their perspective about biological markers.