Omics-based biomarkers as useful tools in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease clinical practice: How far are we?

Figure 1 Characterization of omics literature based on a systematic screen of PubMed indexed research articles on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease biomarker (up to December 2023). A: Plot representing the rapidly increasing number of omics articles indexed in PubMed indicating the use of single-omic (red) or multi-omic technologies (blue); the dip in 2023 can be attributed to indexing delay which was not accounted for in the current plot; B: Proportion of omics and combinations of omics (grouped by the characterized entities) commonly used in the analyzed articles; C: Distribution of sample types used in the analyzed articles. The details of articles included in the analysis are listed in Supplementary Table 1.

Figure 2 A roadmap for the improvement of biomarker research in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Discovery of a biologically, and perhaps clinically, interesting omics-based biomarker; analytical, biological/clinical validation of the discovered biomarker; and finally, the evaluation for its clinical utility and use, and the evaluation for its economic benefits (cost-effectiveness or cost-utility studies). A summary of the criteria for the development path of omics-based predictors proposed by the United States National Cancer Institute are also included in the roadmap. Modified from freepik.com.