Biomarkers of Response or Outcome

Biomarkers of response, also referred to as biomarkers of effect or disease, measure an event resulting from a toxic interaction, which is predictive of an adverse health effect or is an adverse health effect. The development of biomarkers of effect and their use in studies have many public health applications, including providing information of the etiology of disease, early detection of disease (screening), and evaluating the efficiency of therapeutic agents. Biomarkers of effect also are useful in 

TABLE 26.2. Selected Examples of Biomarkers of Effect Relevant for Carcinogenesis 

Class of Biomarker Type of Effect Specific Examples 

Cell proliferation Histology Aberrant crypt foci (colon polyps precursors) 

Altered structure Histological Polyps (mucosal lesions) adenomas 

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