Statistical Considerations in Assessing Molecular Markers for Cancer Prognosis and Treatment Efficacy

The development and growth of molecular biologic technology is leading to a new appreciation of inherent heterogeneity in cancer. While long appreciated as morphologically diverse entities, malignancies have increasingly been explored for molecular characteristics indicative of cellular regulation and growth, ability to adapt to and change local environments, and susceptibility to potentially therapeutic agents. These pursuits have led to important advances in the understanding of cancer biology, and in selected instances, have led to the development and use of treatments designed to act on molecular targets.