Novel biomarkers

The term biomarker is used to describe a concept familiar to pathologists– a laboratory-measurable analyte which provides information useful in assessing the nature and extent of disease, the response to therapy, or the potential to respond to a proposed therapy. ‘Novelty’ in the biomarker field is associated with technological developments that allow:•Genetic analysis of the patient, providing (potentially) information on which patient can benefit from which treatment•Identification and analysis of many molecules previously unknown, which are potential biomarkers, and development of improved methods for detecting and measuring these analytes. This overview will focus on the second area, and will illustrate the potential of novel biomarkers using two complex pathologies– the arthritides and sepsis. The various named arthritic pathologies are well-diagnosed by current clinical and laboratory tests, yet there is room for improvement. There are various treatment options, ranging from aspirin to complex biologicals, admixed with treatment to reduce pain. Rheumatologists have established hierarchies of treatment, progressing from simpler to more complex and more expensive treatments depending on response. The aim of novel biomarker studies is to allow identification of the most appropriate treatment at the outset, based on laboratory testing, making the process more effective.