Biomarker News and Research

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A biomarker is a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease. A biomarker may be used to see how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or condition. Also called molecular marker and signature molecule.

Artificial intelligence improves risk stratification in oropharyngeal cancer

A team led by investigators at Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI)–based noninvasive tool that can predict the likelihood that a patient's oropharyngeal cancer-a type of head and neck cancer that develops in the throat-will spread, thereby signaling which patients should receive aggressive treatment.

23 Dec 2025

CT-based quantification of tumor fibrosis guides chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer

On October 3, 2025, a multicenter team from Shenzhen University, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, among others jointly reported a novel noninvasive method for quantifying tumor fibrosis based on preoperative enhanced CT.

23 Dec 2025

Splicing regulator U2AF1 promotes angiogenesis in cardiac injury

A study published in Engineering shows that a protein called U2 small nuclear RNA auxiliary factor 1 (U2AF1), released by immune cells known as macrophages, helps grow new blood vessels in the heart after a myocardial infarction (MI) by altering how the gene Yap1 is spliced.

22 Dec 2025

Simple blood test maps hidden Alzheimer’s disease changes

This population-based study used plasma pTau217 to estimate how common Alzheimer’s disease neuropathological changes are across age and cognitive status in a Norwegian community cohort. Prevalence rose steeply with age and was strongly associated with APOE ε4 genotype, education level, and kidney function, with implications for future use of blood biomarkers in clinical practice.

21 Dec 2025

Long-approved drug shows promise in slowing neuron loss in Alzheimer’s disease

Scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz have discovered that while brain neuron changes, including cell loss, may begin in early life, a drug long-approved for other conditions might be repurposed to slow this damage, offering new hope for those with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other cognition issues.

19 Dec 2025

ACE2 protein may play a protective role against high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes

A collaborative study from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) and Imperial College London has found that the protein ACE2 may play a protective role against two common conditions, high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes, which affect millions of people worldwide.

19 Dec 2025

Experimental drug targets early toxic amyloid to slow Alzheimer’s disease

An experimental drug developed at Northwestern University has demonstrated further promise as an early intervention for Alzheimer's disease.

18 Dec 2025

Strong heart health lowers long-term death risk in cancer survivors

Higher Life’s Simple 7 cardiovascular health scores were associated with lower long-term all-cause and cancer mortality in cancer survivors from a large Italian cohort. Inflammation, resting heart rate, and vitamin D statistically explained a substantial share of these associations, supporting shared cardiometabolic pathways across cancer and cardiovascular disease.

17 Dec 2025

Lysophosphatidylcholines show gene-dependent effects in early Alzheimer’s disease

A new study presents robust evidence on the role of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) in the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers discovered that LPCs-compounds that transport a variety of healthy fatty acids to the brain-either promote Alzheimer's or protect against it, depending on a person's genetics.

17 Dec 2025

Urine-based microRNA clock predicts biological aging without a blood test

Researchers developed and validated a non-invasive urinary microRNA aging clock using extracellular vesicle miRNAs from more than 6,000 adults. The model predicts age with about 4 to 5 years error and links accelerated aging signals to type 2 diabetes.

16 Dec 2025

Researchers develop AI-powered method for faster lung infection diagnosis

Lung infections like pneumonia are among the world's top killers - but diagnosing them is notoriously hard.

16 Dec 2025

Tau biology expands beyond microtubules to neurodegeneration, metabolism and mental illness

An Thought Leaders Invited Review published today in Genomic Psychiatry by Dr. Peng Lei and colleagues presents a sweeping synthesis of tau protein research that fundamentally reframes our understanding of this molecule's dual identity.

16 Dec 2025

Air pollution and immune changes could trigger autoimmune conditions

A new study has linked air pollution exposure and immune-system changes that often precede the onset of autoimmune diseases.

15 Dec 2025

New framework tracks response to anti-amyloid therapies in Alzheimer's

In the last few years, progress has been made in the fight against Alzheimer's disease with a class of therapies called anti-amyloid antibodies (anti-Aβ).

15 Dec 2025

Australian scientists uncover key genetic drivers behind long COVID

Australian scientists have identified the key genetic drivers behind long COVID, revealing why some people continue to experience debilitating symptoms long after their initial infection.

15 Dec 2025

FAU researchers create deep learning model that detects and evaluates Alzheimer's, FTD

Dementia is a group of disorders that gradually impair memory, thinking and daily functioning. Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, affects about 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older in 2025.

15 Dec 2025

Indiana University physician joins FDA panel on male hormone therapy

Helen Bernie, DO, MPH, assistant professor of urology at Indiana University School of Medicine, will participate in an expert panel on testosterone replacement therapy and men's health to be held Wednesday, Dec. 10, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bernie's role on the panel is that of a clinical expert on men's reproductive health, which is the focus of both her practice and academic research.

12 Dec 2025

Metabolic imaging enables early response prediction in bone-dominant metastatic breast cancer

A prospective, multicenter cancer clinical trial by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) has validated an improved method for predicting treatment benefits in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer that has spread primarily or exclusively to the bones.

12 Dec 2025

New blood biomarker predicts brain damage after cardiac arrest

A blood biomarker yet to be used in cardiac arrest care can give a clearer picture of the extent of brain damage after a cardiac arrest.

11 Dec 2025

Review highlights emerging role of tumor MHC-II in shaping cancer immunotherapy outcomes

Cancer immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment, yet many patients experience limited or short-lived responses due to immune evasion, tumor heterogeneity, and immune-related adverse events.

11 Dec 2025