Biomarker is an occasionally used synonym for biosignature, which is a term used in astrobiology to indicate "a measurable phenomenon that indicates the presence of life." A Biosignature, generally, is a measurable phenomenon that indicates the presence of life. ... Astrobiology is an interdisciplinary field, combining aspects of astronomy, biology and geology, which considers the question of whether extraterrestrial life exists and if so, then what are its origin, distribution, and evolution. ...
In medicine, biomarkers are indicators of a particular disease state. In the past, biomarkers were primarily physiological indicators such as blood pressure or heart rate. More recently, biomarker has drifted toward being a synonym for molecular biomarker, such as elevated prostate specific antigen as a molecular biomarker for prostate cancer. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein manufactured exclusively by the prostate gland; PSA is produced for the ejaculate where it liquifies the semen and allows sperm to swim freely. ... Prostate cancer is a group of cancerous cells (a malignant tumor) that begins most often in the outer part of the prostate. ...
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Biomarkers are anatomic, physiologic, biochemical, or molecular parameters associated with the presence and severity of specific disease states.
Biomarkers are detectable and measureable by a variety of methods including physical examination, laboratory assays and medical imaging.
Biomarkers in imaging may serve as such non-traditional endpoints, though many if not most surrogate endpoints do not involve the imaging of biomarkers, and the concepts are not synonymous.
Biomarkers may be used to confirm the exposure of individuals in a population to a particular substance, e.g., an organic solvent in exhaled breath, the cadmium burden of the kidney, lead in bone, or the fatty tissue storage of chlorinated hydrocarbons (see Table 1, chapter 5).
Biomarkers of exposure or effect may be used to evaluate compliance with advice for minimizing exposure or for remedial measures in a public health context, e.g., to confirm reduced exposure to lead from environmental sources in a population group.
Biomarkers may be applied to the estimation of exposure and internal dose in individuals and in groups and may allow identification of those at greater or lesser risk than average.
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