Lung cancer biomarkers. A literature review

ABSTRACT Lung cancer is the first in terms of incidence and mortality, being responsible worldwide for about 1.8 million deaths. In Brazil 31,270 new cases were diagnosed in 2018, 18,740 in men and 12,350 in women. One of the main challenges about lung cancer is performing an early diagnosis, in most cases the disease is detected in the late stages, which implies in poor prognoses. Tumor biomarkers are hugely relevant in early diagnosis, understanding of carcinogenesis, prognostic determination and therapeutic choice. The present paper reviews non-small cell lung cancer biomarkers described in the literature and their diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic applications, intervention and therapeutic control for individualized therapy. Although there is still a vast universe to be explored, studies reveal a promising future for lung cancer treatment with increasingly personalized and assertive therapies that increase the chances of progression-free survival.