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The development of biosensors for cancer biomarkers has recently been expanding rapidly, offering promising biomedical applications of these sensors as highly sensitive, selective, and inexpensive bioanalytical tools that can provide alternative methodology to that afforded by the advanced hyphenated-instrumental techniques. In this review, we focus particularly on the detection of a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) family, protein survivin (Sur), a ubiquitous re-organizer of the cell life cycle with the ability to inhibit the apoptosis and induce an enhanced proliferation leading to the unimpeded cancer growth and metastasis. Herein, we critically evaluate the progress in the development of novel biosensing systems and biosensors for the detection of two survivin (Sur) biomarkers: the Sur protein and its messenger RNA (Sur mRNA), including immunosensors, electrochemical piezo- and impedance-sensors, electrochemi-luminescence biosensors, genosensors based on oligonucleotide molecular beacons (MBs) with fluorescent or electrochemical transduction, as well as the microfluidic and related analytical platforms based on solution chemistry. The in-situ applications of survivin biomarkers' detection technologies to equip nanocarriers of the controlled drug delivery systems with MB-based fluorescence imaging capability, apoptosis control, and mitigation of the acquired drug resistance are also presented and critically evaluated. Finally, we turn the attention to the application of biosensors for the analysis of Sur biomarkers in exosomes and circulating tumor cells for a non-invasive liquid biopsy. The prospect of a widespread screening for early cancers, based on inexpensive point-of-care testing using biosensors and multiplex biosensor arrays, as a means of reducing the high cancer fatality rate, is discussed. • Progress in the development of biosensors for cancer biomarker survivin (Sur) is reviewed. • The utility of biosensing platforms for the detection of Sur protein and Sur mRNA in early cancer screening is discussed. • Immunosensor and genosensor designs in microfluidic, electrochemical, luminescence and piezometric arrangements are reviewed. • Due to strong expression of Sur in all cancer types, biosensors for Sur markers can serve in cancer diagnostics and grading. • Biosensors for Sur detection in exosomes and circulating tumor cells is a promising alternative for cancer screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Progress in the development of cellulose paper-based biosensors (PBB) is reviewed. • Nanomaterial-enhanced performance of paper-based devices is analysed. • Advances in microfluidic paper-based devices (μPADs) are evaluated. • Utilization of PBBs and μPADs for cancer biomarkers detection is assessed. A remarkable progress in the development of portable paper-based biosensors (PBBs) and microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) has recently been achieved. In these devices, a paper formed of microfibers of cellulose, a carbohydrate biopolymer, offers both an ample space in its micropores for analytical reagents storage and a capillary force to drive liquid samples to a dedicated reaction zone for instantaneous detection of the desired analytes. Owing to the low cost and ultra-high sensitivity, these novel devices have become a promising alternative to traditional advanced analytical instruments and offer great potential for applications in medical emergencies, health diagnostics at points-of-care, and broad early-cancer screening. In this review, we focus particularly on recent important achievements in utilization of cellulose and its modifications in portable sensing devices for biomedical applications. The progress in functionalization of cellulose papers with antibodies, nucleic acids and nanomaterials in PBBs and μPADs, is discussed and critically evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]