Omics technologies in diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract

To date lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Numerous studies on LAC biology resulted in identification of crucial mutations in oncogenes involved in activation of signaling pathways crucial for neoplastic transformation. Therapeutic approaches introduced in clinical practice significantly increase the survival rate of patients with LAC of different etiology. However, the main problem in the treatment of LAC consists in early diagnosis, taking into account both factors and mechanisms responsible in tumor initiation and progression. This problem may be solved by identification of a wide biomarker repertoire with high specificity and reliability of detection. In this context, proteins differentially expressed in normal and pathological conditions and suitable for detection in biological fluids appear to be the most promising biomarkers. The latter is especially important for minimally invasive diagnostic methods applicable at early stages of the disease. In this review we have analyzed literature data on studies aimed at search for LAC biomarkers by using a widerange of approaches and methods. The major attention has been paid to protein biomarkers as the most promising and convenient subjects of clinical diagnosis. The review also summarizes existing knowledge on posttranslational modifications, splice variants, isoforms, as well as model systems and transcriptome changes in LAC.