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A Standardized Liquid Biopsy Preanalytical Protocol for Downstream Circulating-Free DNA Applications
Published on: September 16, 2022
Circulating tumor cells and DNA as liquid biopsies
Ellen Heitzer1, Martina Auer1, Peter Ulz1
1Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University of Graz, Harrachgasse 21/8, A-8010 Graz, Austria.
Genome Medicine
|September 4, 2013
Summary
Liquid biopsies, using circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), offer non-invasive insights into cancer evolution. These biomarkers show promise for personalized medicine and improved patient prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genomics
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Current cancer prognosis relies on clinicopathological staging, offering limited insight into individual treatment response.
- There is a critical need for predictive and prognostic protein and genetic biomarkers.
- Tumor genotypes are unstable and change under selection pressure, necessitating serial monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in identifying circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and analyzing their genomes.
- To discuss circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a potential alternative to CTC analysis.
- To explore the role of liquid biopsies in understanding metastasis and guiding precision medicine.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent progress in CTC identification and genomic analysis.
- Discussion of high-resolution approaches, including microfluidic platforms for CTCs.
- Exploration of ctDNA-based methods for non-invasive tumor genome analysis.
Main Results:
- Liquid biopsies enable non-invasive analysis of tumor genome evolution during treatment.
- New microfluidic platforms enhance CTC identification and genomic dissection.
- ctDNA analysis presents a powerful alternative to CTC-based approaches.
Conclusions:
- Liquid biopsies provide novel insights into metastasis and cellular invasiveness.
- CTCs and ctDNA show potential as predictive and prognostic biomarkers.
- These approaches are instrumental for advancing precision and personalized cancer medicine.
