Prognostic markers in lung cancer: is it ready for prime time?

Cancer prognostic markers are patient or tumor characteristics that predict outcome (usually survival) independent of the treatment (1). Thus, they are usually identified and validated in patients who receive no or surgical therapy only. The goal of identifying prognostic markers is to define patient subpopulations with significantly different anticipated outcomes, who might benefit from different therapies. Good prognostic patients may not require additional treatment beyond the primary surgical resection, while poor prognostic patients may derive improved survival benefit from adjuvant therapy. Therefore, prognostic markers could potentially be “drivers” of cancer progression. In turn, these markers could themselves represent therapeutic targets