Rational Approaches Used for Biomarker Discovery

A multimodal approach was first successfully implemented for screening of ovarian cancer patients (Jacobs et al, 1999). Based on these results it is suggested that the identification and application of early candidate biomarkers in populations of high risk for RCC could present an efficient approach for the determination of screening markers. 

Advantages of Diflerent Proteome-Based Technolc ies for the Identification of Biomarkers 

Since tumor tissue is the primary manifestation of cancer, it contains the most immediate information and is the preferred material to investigate molecular targets. Experimental approaches will benefit from the enhanced protein concentration compared to body fluids. However, one major drawback of analyzing tumor biopsies is their limited availability and their heterogenicity which often requires microdissection. Alternatively, body fluids are the preferred clinical sources because they are most readily available in a noninvasive and continuous manner. 

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