Spilling the Tea on Biomarkers

30 May 2024

You might be asking yourself, “What is the hype about biomarkers?” and “Should I be talking with my healthcare provider about biomarkers?” Well, the answer is yes, you should, and we are here today to help you get started!

What are biomarkers?

Let’s first explore this important question. Technically, from the early origins of the term, biomarkers are “objective, quantifiable characteristics of biological processes¹”. By this definition, your blood pressure, the number of times you are breathing and your heart rate are also biomarkers. Over time and with the development of science (think the mapping of the human genome), the term “biomarker” has grown to focus on specific traits that are unique to you and could impact your health. Specifically, for this blog, we will talk about biomarker language that applies to the proteins and other substances your deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) carries. DNA carries the information that allows every single cell in our body to divide and grow.² It is this information found on your DNA that makes you, uniquely you. Think about it as your internal fingerprint.

What are biomarkers used for?

Biomarkers are used in many different ways. They can be used to predict your risk of developing an illness, choose treatments that are most likely to work best for you and predict the likelihood of you experiencing side effects to some medications.³

Because there are so many biomarkers now, a conversation with the healthcare team is not limited to one or two diseases. Biomarker testing is now available for people at risk for cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease and more.⁴So, if you have a concern about an illness or a family history of an illness, consider checking with your healthcare provider if biomarker testing is appropriate for you.

How are biomarkers collected?

You might be wondering how biomarkers are collected. The answer depends on the biomarker. But, in general, biomarkers are found anywhere DNA is found, which makes it convenient to gather samples. One of the most common ways to gather samples for biomarkers is through a blood draw. Other ways include tissue samples, as in a biopsy or a swab, saliva and urine.

What do the reports tell me?

The reports can be long and detailed, which is a good thing. They are usually reviewed with you by someone trained in reading them, like a genetic counselor or your physician. Usually, you will get results within a few days to a couple of weeks. Getting detailed information specific to you is generally worth the wait.

The information you will receive depends on the purpose of the test and the specific test. The reports will tell you what is found or not found in your DNA. This information can be used to predict your risk for certain diseases. For example, people with mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene may have an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer. If a person is in the process of receiving a cancer diagnosis, their biomarker results will give information about the exact type of cancer they have. The results will also help them and their healthcare team create a treatment plan that is targeted to treat the “internal fingerprint” of the cancer.

Learn more

To learn more about biomarkers, please scroll through or check back here to find other blog posts that go deeper into specific tests for specific diseases. You might also be interested in information found here.

The bottom line

The bottom line is that you are your own best advocate. If you have any questions or concerns about your health or your risk for illness, talk to your physician or a member of your healthcare team about biomarker testing and the best approach for you.

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