Importance of the field: Despite many efforts to improve early detection, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths. Stage is the main determinant of prognosis and the basis for deciding treatment options. Screening tests for lung cancer have not been successful so far.
Areas covered in the review: The article reviews the available literature related to biomarkers in use at present and those that could be used for early diagnosis, staging, prognosis, response to therapy and prediction of recurrence. The single biomarkers are analysed, divided according to the technological methods used and the locations of sampling.
What the reader will gain: The reader will gain knowledge on biomarkers in use and those now under study. The reader will also gain insights into the difficulties pertaining to the development of biomarkers, results reproducibility and clinical application.
Take home message: Although some markers seem to be promising, at present there is no consensus on the proven value of their clinical use in lung cancer. The future lies probably in a panel of biomarkers instead of individual assays, or in predictive models derived from the integration of clinical variables and gene expression profiles.