Biomarkers and molecular diagnosis of gastrointestinal and pancreatic neoplasms

The histopathological diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancers is usually unambiguous, but it does have its limitations. In the era of personalized medicine, molecular biomarkers are increasingly being explored, not only as viable diagnostic tools but also for predicting therapeutic response. In this Review, the authors discuss the most common clinically available biomarkers for cancers of the stomach, pancreas and colon, and the most promising molecular biomarkers for esophageal neoplasms.