Gene Expressions: Decoding Biomarkers

Cancer is not one disease, it is many. Biomarkers can help us better understand this complex disease.

In cancer research, biomarkers, like mutations in DNA or an excess of a certain protein are used to determine who is at risk of developing cancer or what someone’s prognosis might be. Biomarkers can also be used to help predict who may be an appropriate candidate for a certain medicine.

Genentech scientist Jeff Settleman decodes the role of biomarkers in cancer research.