• The impact of biomarkers on the early diagnosis and prediction of human lung cancer
  • Mohammadreza Shabanpour,1,*
    1. Department of Microbiology, Comprehensive Health Research center, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, Babol, Iran EMAIL: mohamadreza855sh@gmail.com ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7759-0164


  • Introduction: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 2 million deaths annually. Early detection plays a pivotal role in improving survival rates by identifying cases that are otherwise inoperable or fatal. Lung cancer is mainly classified into non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), with NSCLC representing about 85% of cases. In its early stages, the disease is often asymptomatic and frequently discovered incidentally through imaging. Biomarkers play a critical role in early diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer by identifying high-risk populations, optimizing screening, and distinguishing malignant from benign cases. Recently, liquid biopsy has emerged as a promising non-invasive approach for analyzing circulating tumor components, offering a deeper understanding of tumor biology.
  • Methods: This review is based on an analysis of 10 selected articles out of 28 published between 2014 and 2025, retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Search terms included “lung cancer,” “biomarker,” and “early diagnosis.” Selection was based on clinical relevance, recency, and number of citations.
  • Results: Analysis of selected literature demonstrated significant diagnostic potential for liquid biopsy-derived biomarkers, particularly circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and microRNAs (miRNAs). These biomarkers showed high sensitivity and specificity, improving early-stage NSCLC detection rates by up to 30% compared to imaging alone. Liquid biopsies also provided valuable insights into tumor heterogeneity and real-time treatment monitoring. Integrating biomarker screening with imaging protocols enhanced diagnostic accuracy, especially in high-risk populations. Despite promising outcomes, challenges such as standardization, cost, and limited clinical implementation remain barriers to widespread use
  • Conclusion: Biomarkers are revolutionizing lung cancer management by enabling early classification, monitoring, and treatment decisions. Circulating biomarkers—particularly via liquid biopsy—offer a non-invasive tool to track tumor dynamics and stratify indeterminate pulmonary nodules. Technologies such as cfDNA, ctDNA, and miRNA allow for serial tumor assessment and risk model optimization. While promising, broader clinical application requires overcoming methodological and logistical challenges. Further research is essential to standardize integration into screening frameworks and reduce lung cancer mortality through improved early detection.
  • Keywords: 1. Lung cancer 2. Biomarkers 3. Early diagnosis 4. Liquid biopsy 5. ctDNA