Biomarkers: an overview for oncology nurses

Abstract

Objectives: To provide an overview of the basic principles of biomarker use in clinical oncology practice and discuss the range of biomarker forms (from genes to constitutional characteristics), biomarker functions (both disease- and drug-related), modalities (protein expression patterns to patient history), the criteria for biomarker validation, and the integral role of bioinformatics.

Data sources: Published nursing and medical literature.

Conclusion: The premise of nursing assessment is the same as that of biomarker use - biological variables that appear at one level of biological organization (eg, molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, and organism) correspond to processes or events occurring at other levels of biologic organization. The advent of genomic technologies has logarithmically increased the volume of biomarkers, which are expected to provide new insights that improve patient care.

Implications for nursing practice: Nurses and patients will benefit greatly from the incorporation of molecular biomarkers into patient care. Nurses will be able to better assess (and anticipate) patient needs with the new insights that are available in the post-genomic, personalized medicine era of health care. Although the rapid rate of technological changes and new discoveries will require continuing concerted educational efforts, the improved quality of patient care will be rewarded by better outcomes.