| abstract |
Embodiments include obtaining a stroma liquid biopsy from a patient and detecting a pattern of dysregulation amongst the biomarkers in the stroma liquid biopsy that can be monitored to help screen, diagnose or treat the patient for cancer. The biomarkers in the stroma liquid biopsy are involved in interconnected pathways such as the coagulation pathway, acute-phase inflammation pathway, and complement pathway. Particular embodiments involve assaying for levels of biomarkers, such as neutrophil elastase, as well as subpopulations of other biomarkers, such as subpopulations of SERPIN proteins. The levels of biomarkers and/or the ratios of levels of biomarker subpopulations can be informative for predicting the cancer disease state in the patient, thereby enabling more personalized or tailored medical intervention for the patient. |