Screening and Early Diagnosis
- HPV DNA Typing: Identifying high-risk HPV strains associated with cervical cancer.
- p16INK4a: A biomarker that helps in distinguishing between benign and premalignant lesions.
- Methylation Markers: Utilizing specific DNA methylation patterns to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Prognostic Assessment
- PD-L1: Evaluating the expression of this checkpoint protein to understand immune evasion in tumors.
- Ki-67: A proliferation marker that aids in assessing tumor growth and aggressiveness.
- Survivin: An inhibitor of apoptosis that can serve as an indicator of tumor prognosis.
Therapeutic Targets
- PD-1/PD-L1: Targeting immune checkpoints to enhance anti-tumor immunity.
- VEGF: Understanding tumor angiogenesis to inform treatment strategies.
- PI3K/AKT Pathway: Identifying alterations that could present potential therapeutic targets.
Recurrence Monitoring
- SCC-Ag: A serum marker for monitoring squamous cell carcinoma recurrence.
- ctDNA: Utilizing circulating tumor DNA to detect minimal residual disease and monitor treatment response.