Pathobiology of cancer and clinical biochemistry

Abstract

Early diagnosis of cancer clearly reduces morbidity and mortality, and a sizable number of cancers could be prevented at the secondary level with appropriate diagnostic tools. In early detection, biochemical analyses are highly supportive of the cytological and/or histopathological assessments. Among children, cancers probably originate from altered signaling pathways attributable to developmental genetic disorders. In adults, generally preventable risk factors, e.g., cigarette smoking, infections, unhealthy lifestyle and obesity, create a state of inflammation and associated oxidative imbalance, which may progress to malignancy. Pathological mechanisms of cancer are associated with abnormal expressions of various endogenous molecules that can be used as tumor biomarkers. Evaluation of such markers in different phases along the disease course plays a crucial role in clinical management and prognosis. Definitely, the current trend of active research on neoplastic mechanisms will help the clinical biochemistry laboratories to provide a better service.

Keywords

Preventable cancers - childhood cancers - pathologic mechanisms - clinical biochemistry - laboratory medicine