Molecular markers in cancer

•Data of the liquid biomarkers for screening, diagnosis and prognosis of cancers are comprehensively mined.•Sensitivity and specificity of liquid biomarkers such as proteins, enzymes, and miRNAs are summarized in Table 1.•A list of biomarkers approved by the US FDA in the screening, diagnosis and prognosis of cancers is provided in tabular form.•A simplified eye-catching figure has been drawn to comprehend liquid biomarkers easily. Cancer remains a common health issue having significant socioeconomic burden worldwide. Despite the awareness campaigns, cancer cases continue to increase due to an aging population and lack of early detection biomarkers. Accordingly, much research has focused on non-traditional approaches which include novel imaging modalities and liquid biopsy. In addition, a considerable number of biomacromolecules as well as other biomarkers have been identified to further explore their potential use as diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic tools. In this review, we provide an update on these new findings and explore their clinical application in cancer.