Bioinformatics Analysis Of Omics Data For Biomarker Identification In Clinical Research

Bioinformatics Analysis of Omics Data for Biomarker Identification in Clinical Research

Bioinformatics Analysis of Omics Data for Biomarker Identification in Clinical Research, Volume II

This Research Topic is part of a series with, "Bioinformatics Analysis of Omics Data for Biomarker Identification in Clinical Research - Volume I" (https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/13816/bioinformatics-analysis-of-omics-data-for-biomarker-identification-in-clinical-research) The advances and the decreasing cost of omics data enable profiling of disease molecular features at different levels, including bulk tissues, animal models, and single cells. Large volumes of omics data enhance the ability to search for information for preclinical study and provide the opportunity to leverage them to understand disease mechanisms, identify molecular targets for therapy, and detect biomarkers of treatment response. Identification of stable, predictive, and interpretable biomarkers is a significant step towards personalized medicine and therapy. Omics data from genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics, metagenomics, and metabolomics help to determine biomarkers for prognostic and diagnostic applications. Preprocessing of omics data is of vital importance as it aims to eliminate systematic experimental bias and technical variation while preserving biological variation. Dozens of normalization methods for correcting experimental variation and bias in omics data have been developed during the last two decades, while only a few consider the skewness between different sample states, such as the extensive over-repression of genes in cancers. The choice of normalization methods determines the fate of identified biomarkers or molecular signatures. From these considerations, the development of appropriate normalization methods or preprocessing strategies may promote biomarker identification and facilitate clinical decision-making.

Evolution of Translational Omics

Technologies collectively called omics enable simultaneous measurement of an enormous number of biomolecules; for example, genomics investigates thousands of DNA sequences, and proteomics examines large numbers of proteins. Scientists are using these technologies to develop innovative tests to detect disease and to predict a patient's likelihood of responding to specific drugs. Following a recent case involving premature use of omics-based tests in cancer clinical trials at Duke University, the NCI requested that the IOM establish a committee to recommend ways to strengthen omics-based test development and evaluation. This report identifies best practices to enhance development, evaluation, and translation of omics-based tests while simultaneously reinforcing steps to ensure that these tests are appropriately assessed for scientific validity before they are used to guide patient treatment in clinical trials.