The Impact of Biochemical Assays on Cancer Research and Biomarker Discovery
A biomarker is an indicator of normal functioning or disease in the body. A biomarker can be an enzyme, gene, mRNA, or protein. Researchers measure these biomarkers in biological samples to infer the presence and magnitude of a disease. Today, biomarkers are widely employed in cancer research and cancer biology. Cancer is complex. It develops gradually over time, leading to abnormal proteins or enzymes that control cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, and death. Scientists measure cancer biomarkers at the genetic level, mRNA level, protein or enzyme level, and cellular level. The current article discusses the impact of biochemical assays used to measure cancer biomarkers.
The role of biochemical assays in cancer research
In drug discovery of cancer drugs, biomarkers can measure the potency and efficacy of lead compounds or drug candidates in in-vitro and animal models. These assessments can demonstrate the proof of concept and PK/PD relationship. Only drug candidates that show a robust correlation between efficacy and biomarker are progressed into the next development stage. Hence, biomarkers act as surrogates to support clinical endpoints in different drug discovery and development phases. Notably, if a drug fails to demonstrate PK/PD correlation, the likelihood of failure at later stages of clinical trials increases.
On the other hand, in cancer treatment, biomarkers can detect, stratify, diagnose, select therapies, evaluate toxicities, and monitor clinical responses. Biomarkers can be detected and measured using multiple biochemical assays such as ELISA, spectrophotometry, IHC, histopathology, gene sequencing, western blotting, imaging, and enzyme activity.
Today, innovations in cancer research are advancing at a rapid pace. Newer immunotherapies and targeted treatments are showing promising results. However, therapy resistance and the nature of heterogeneous diseases are significant challenges. Hence, research that deciphers molecular and cellular mechanisms in cancer may prove crucial in accelerating drug discovery and offering personalized therapies to the patient population. Biochemical assays are one such critical piece in accelerating drug development.
Before diving deep into biochemical assays, let us first understand what is a biochemical analysis. Biochemical analysis refers to approaches that involve biochemical reactions to detect and quantify the levels of several substances in study samples. Biochemical analysis can identify organisms, assess signaling events, differentiate microorganisms, etc. Biochemical assays incorporate these analyses to screen compounds having defined mechanisms.
In recent times, multiple biochemical and enzyme assays have been designed and developed to identify and optimize compounds that impact the activity of these targets. Bioanalytical laboratories, such as pharmacokinetic CROs, offer integrated biochemical assays to support screening services such as hit identification, lead optimization, high-throughput screening, selective screening, safety profiling, etc. Some primary biochemical assay formats include:
- Enzyme assays
- Radioactive assays
- Kinase assays
- Ion channel assays
- Protease assays
- RAS assays
- In vitro assays
- Phosphatase assays
- Cell-based assays
Biochemical assays are a powerful tool for understanding cancer biology and offering meaningful insights into physiological systems. These classical biochemical assays are critical in streamlining drug discovery and cancer research. Cell-based assays are one such robust assay format. Cell-based cancer analysis helps scientists understand physicochemical systems in cancerous cells and investigate drug effects on these processes. They offer data from phenotypic assessments of cancer cells, stem cells, and 3D cell models.
Cell imaging has rapidly advanced cancer research. Today, researchers can view cellular components more clearly. Through high-content analysis, cell imaging techniques can generate more data from complex cell models and cellular samples. They can develop robust functional assays for drugs preventing tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover, these assays deliver information to address multi-parametric data points and offer data-rich output compared to non-imaging results. Let us explore a few specialized solutions for biochemical assays in cancer research.
Must Read: The Role of Assay Testing in Clinical Diagnostics
Cancer genomics
Cancer genomics focuses on understanding the genetic basis of tumor proliferation and evolution under specific microenvironments. Biochemical assays can help identify genetic and epigenetic modifications in cancer. These assays can improve understanding of cancer biology and help detect and treat conditions.
Cancer cell biology
Cancer cell biology studies the differences between cancer and normal cells at the biological level. Biochemical assays can help understand the basic mechanisms of tumor development and behavior. Understanding cancer biology and the fundamental governing processes is crucial to identifying molecular targets for preventive and therapeutic intervention.
Precision medicine
Each cancer patient is unique. From the microenvironment to the genetic makeup, every cancer has a different biochemical component. The future of precision medicine tailored for individual patients relies on understanding functional responses and underlying genetics of individual cancer cases. Biochemical assays can help researchers screen single molecular profiles and provide clarity in identifying the right molecular target for each cancer patient.
Microenvironment
Imaging tumor growth and proliferation within their microenvironment offers information about the complex relationship between cancer cells and immune systems, including fibroblasts, immune cells, extracellular components, and signaling molecules. Recent advances in tumor research with the help of advanced biochemical assays have revealed several interactions between tumor growth and progression, providing critical targets for drug intervention.
In Conclusion
Biochemical assays are critical for advancing cancer research and bringing effective yet safe drug products.
