Biologic Markers as Predictors of Risk in Aerodigestive Tract Cancers

Abstract

The goal of research on biologic markers is to develop methods to reliably distinguish individuals at high risk for an adverse outcome. Ideally, the ability to so classify individuals should improve the probability of intervening to avoid or reduce the severity of the outcome. For aerodigestive tract cancers, the following applications for biologic markers may be considered, each with different implications for intervention: (a) Early detection of disease in asymptomatic individuals with such markers would allow treatment with the highest probability of cure and fewest adverse effects. (b) Predicting the probability of recurrence or second primary tumor prior to therapy by using biologic markers that could identify relapse-prone individuals, particularly if they could discriminate subgroups within categories of established prognostic factors, would permit more effective targeting of aggressive therapy and intensive surveillance. (c) Monitoring response to therapy with markers that exhibit dynamic changes with disease progression may permit detection of relapse in early, possibly preclinical, stages.