Current understanding of prostate cancer biomarkers

Abstract

Worldwide, prostate cancer has remained one of the most common malignant neoplasms among men and it is accompanied by high mortality rates. Standard methods for diagnosing prostate cancer have limited sensitivity and specificity, unnecessary biopsies are often performed, and the risk of overdiagnosis of the disease and overtreatment of patients is high. The review considers diagnostic and prognostic biological markers of prostate cancer proposed in recent years. Theoretical foundations for the use of new biomarkers are analyzed. The characteristics and practical significance of biomarkers of various groups (immunohistochemical, molecular and genetic, prostate specific antigen-associated, volatile organic metabolites) are presented. The need for further large-scale scientific research in the field of biomarker application in prostate cancer, criteria for their selection and evaluation are described. The introduction of modern diagnostic and prognostic markers into real clinical practice opens up new opportunities for improvement of prostate cancer diagnosis, individual prognosis, and rationalization of treatment strategy.