Cancer Biomarkers Market: By Profiling Technology (Omic, Imaging, Others) By Cancer Type (Breast cancer, Lung cancer, Others) By Application (Diagnostics, Prognostics, Others) By Biomolecules (Genetic biomarkers, Protein biomarkers, Others) Regional Analysis & Forecast - 2026

Cancer biomarkers are substances or processes that will indicate the presence of cancers in the human body. Biomarkers can be produced by the cancer tissue itself or also by other cells in the body responding to cancer. They may be found in the blood, urine, stool, tumor tissue, or bodily fluids or other tissues. They will help in cancer detection and thus, enhance high-speed noninvasive diagnosis using genomics and proteomics. Cancer biomarkers are traceable substances, which can be used as an indicator of the biological state of the tumor and hence used to analyze diagnostic and prognostic stages of cancer. The treatment of cancer by diagnosing and analyzing various cancer biomarkers using different diagnostic techniques is a profound approach to obtain rapid results for treatment. These are used as risk indicators for multiple cancer types including lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer among others.

Market Overview

The global cancer biomarker market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of xx% between the years 2019-2026. The cancer biomarkers market has been driven owing to the rise in prevalence of cancer, advancements made in omics technologies, increase in healthcare expenditure, growth in R&D funding from government and private bodies, and rise in demand for personalized medicine in cancer therapies. However, the higher cost of various cancer diagnostic tests, technical issues related to sample collection, and the need for high capital investments, poorly suited regulatory and reimbursement systems are the factors restricting the market growth.

In the last decade, the omics revolution has increased the applications of biomarkers in biomedical research. Also, the developments in high-throughput genomic technologies facilitate the identification and analysis of mutations and polymorphisms in important genes. This helped in the expansion of the spectrum of available genomic biomarkers. For example, researchers at the Mayo Clinic have identified the mutations role in the SPOP gene on developing the resistance to BET. With all these advancements, the number of available genomic biomarkers to detect cancer is expected to increase.

Only four of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved markers (CA 15-3, CA 27.29, HER− 2/neu, and circulating tumor cells analysis of EpCAM, CD45, CK8, 18, 19) can be measured and assessed longitudinally for breast cancer diagnosis or screening. Some of the widely used key biomarkers include SCC, CEA, NSE Cyfra 21-1, TPA (lung cancer), PSA (prostate cancer), CA15-3, EGF R, BRCA 1/2, and Cytokeratin 14 (breast cancer).

Many major global market players are focused on introducing innovative products to increase the efficiency and speed of biomarker discovery. For instance, in January 2016, Illumina (US) launched the MiniSeq benchtop sequencer. This system reduces the cost of sequencing as well as the time taken for output delivery, which enables high-throughput laboratories to increase their productivity. Similarly, in March 2017, QIAGEN N.V. announced the launch of its ipsogen JAK2 RGQ PCR Kit for the detection of the JAK2 V617F/G1849T allele in a group of blood cancers in the US. In March 2018, a researchers team from University of Massachusetts and Clarkson University discovered various proteins such as lipoproteins, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), α1-chymotrypsin and α1-antitrypsin from breast milk, which can act as a potential cancer biomarker in the detection of breast cancer. In addition, advancements in arrays and proteomics technologies have addressed the challenges in the identification and understanding of functions and interactions of various proteins. Because of these technological advancements, the process of discovery and development of novel biomarkers has been simplified to a great extent.

Key Developments

• In Jan 2019, Johns Hopkins medicine researchers have identified a protein that is involved in cell proliferation and in the development of new blood vessels could serve as a marker for the early detection of colorectal cancers.


• In 26 November 2018, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it had approved Vitrakvi (larotrectinib) for treating adult and pediatric patients whose cancers have a specific genetic feature (biomarker).

Segmentation

Global Cancer Biomarkers market is broadly segmented on the basis of profiling technology, biomolecules, cancer type, application, and geography.

By profiling technology: Omic technologies, immunoassays, imaging technologies, and cytogenetics based tests. Omic technologies segment occupies the largest market size.

Based on biomolecules: Genetic biomarkers, protein biomarkers, and glycoprotein biomarkers. Genetic biomarker occupies the largest cancer biomarker market share.

Based on cancer types: Breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer, and others. Among these breast cancer accounted for the largest market size.

Based on the application: Diagnostics, prognostics, risk assessment, drug discovery and development, and others. A prognostics segment occupies the largest cancer biomarker market share.

Geographically: North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and LAMEA. North America is the most leading revenue generating region, due to growth in awareness towards cancer and higher cancer biomarker testing, and high incidence rate of cancer, whereas Asia-Pacific is growing fastest due to increase in disposable incomes, increasing awareness, and rising affordability for advanced cancer treatments.

Some of the key players involved in the cancer biomarkers market include Abbott Laboratories, Affymetrix Inc., QIAGEN, F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Illumina Inc., Agilent Technologies, Merck & Co. Inc., Hologic Inc., Dickinson and Company, Sino Biological Inc., and Becton.