• Prof. Tomris OZBEN

    EuSpLM, Ph.D., D.Sc., Med. Lab. Specialist

CV

Prof. Dr Tomris Ozben is the President of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC). She is Past-President and Executive Board member of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) and Balkan Clinical Laboratory Federation (BCLF). She is the Chair of the EFLM Task Force-Green and Sustainable Laboratories (TF-GSL). She is one of the Board of Directors of the IFCC Foundation for Emerging Nations (FEN). She is the Honorary member of several societies. Over her tenure at Akdeniz University, Prof. Ozben has been the Vice Rector, General Director of the Central Laboratory of the University Hospital, and Chair of the Department of Medical Biochemistry, Ethical Committee member for Clinical studies. She is the Editorial Board member of several Scientific Journals. She has published over 300 papers, edited several books, and invited to speak at more than 500 international conferences.

 

ABSTRACT

Integrated diagnostics in oncology: bridging tumor markers, liquid biopsy, multi-omics, and imaging: through clinical case studies.

Tomris Ozben, PhD, DSc, EuSpLM
Professor, Department of Medical Biochemistry
Akdeniz University Medical Faculty, Antalya, Türkiye
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Medical Faculty, Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Ph.D. School, Modena, Italy

 

Integration of tumor markers with modern imaging techniques, molecular diagnostics, and liquid profiling enhances diagnostic performance and improves cancer management. Tumor markers (TMs) remain widely used in oncology despite advancements in imaging and molecular testing. They are easily measured in body fluids, primarily serum or plasma, with rapid, automated assays available at relatively low costs. While TMs lack specificity and sensitivity, they are valuable in early cancer screening, diagnosis, prognosis, surveillance, therapy monitoring, and predicting drug response or resistance. Combining multiple TMs in panels or validated algorithms has further improved their performance.
Recent technological advances enable the use of blood and body fluids as liquid biopsies, allowing non-invasive tumor assessment. Current liquid biopsy approaches evaluate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), extracellular vesicles (EVs) such as exosomes and oncosomes, and tumor-educated platelets (TEPs). These biomarkers help detecting tumor DNA, identifying specific mutations, and providing prognostic and therapeutic insights for cancer diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment decisions.
Precision medicine revolutionizes oncology by targeting specific cancer types based on molecular characteristics. Researchers leverage genomic and molecular data to characterize tumors, identify therapeutic targets, and refine treatment strategies. The genomic landscape of cancer patients is highly variable, influencing disease progression and treatment efficacy.
Multi-OMICS approaches offer deep insights into cancer’s molecular mechanisms, revealing variations in phenotypic manifestations and responses to therapy. These approaches help dissecting cellular reactions to chemo- and immunotherapy and identifying molecular candidates with diagnostic and prognostic value. Each omics layer adds to the understanding of cancer biology, uncovering disease markers and biological pathways. Multiomics and bioinformatics are key drivers of innovation in diagnostic and prognostic testing. As precision medicine integrates big data, omics, and molecular imaging, translating these advancements into meaningful patient care is essential for designing effective treatment strategies.