Circulating Tumor Nucleic Acids: Perspective in Breast Cancer

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Oncology

Background:

• Free DNA was first identified in blood in 1940.
• Circulating nucleic acids (CNA), DNA and RNA, are found in various diseases, originating from tumors in cancer patients.
• CNA hold potential as biomarkers for breast cancer detection and patient assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of CNA as breast cancer biomarkers.
• To explore the use of CNA for early diagnosis and patient evaluation.
• To discuss the advantages of epigenetic alterations and microRNA over mutations for CNA-based assays.

Main Methods:

• Initial studies compared CNA levels in cancer patients versus healthy individuals.
• Later studies utilized cancer-specific molecular alterations for increased sensitivity and specificity.
• Focus on epigenetic alterations and microRNA for ease of detection and screening potential.

Main Results:

• Epigenetic signatures, as early carcinogenesis events, can serve as valuable screening markers.
• CNA monitoring offers potential as a surrogate marker for circulating tumor cells.
• CNA-based assays may aid in predicting patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

• CNA, particularly epigenetic alterations and microRNA, show significant potential as breast cancer biomarkers.
• Further research is needed to establish a standardized validation process for clinical translation.
• Standardized validation is crucial for the clinical adoption of CNA-based diagnostic and prognostic tools.