Analytical applications of chemiluminescence methods for cancer detection and therapy

Cancer is one of the most life-threatening diseases and a leading cause of death and disability for humans. The current state of the art in chemiluminescence (CL) detection methods provides clinicians and researchers interested in oncology with efficient tools for early detection and accurate diagnosis of cancer. In this context, CL methods are powerful with the capability of detecting cancerous cells and cancer biomarkers, among other applications. Moreover, these methods can aid in increasing the survival chances of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy by sensitive monitoring of their progress when undergoing treatment. This article reviews the literature on the applications of CL methods in cancer detection and therapy (e.g., determination of circulating tumor cells, cancer biomarkers and anticancer drugs, and photodynamic therapy as a light-delivery system and dosimetry tool). (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.