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Updated: Mar 31, 2026
Simple and Rapid Method to Obtain High-quality Tumor DNA from Clinical-pathological Specimens Using Touch Imprint Cytology
Published on: March 21, 2018
[Cytological material for molecular pathology]
Abstract:
Personalized therapy concepts in which the active agent is adapted to genetic alterations in the tumor of the patient, have in recent years led to a paradigm shift in oncology. A comprehensive molecular diagnostic tumor characterization is therefore essential before initiating therapy in order to select the optimal therapy for the patient. The continuously increasing number of genetic alterations which can be treated and known resistance mechanisms together with limited availability of test material represents a completely new challenge for molecular diagnostics. The possibility of being able to determine mutations, translocations and changes in the number of copies not only from paraffin-embedded tumor tissue but also from cytological material and even circulating tumor DNA, substantially extends the diagnostic options.
Insights
Personalized cancer therapy relies on detailed tumor molecular diagnostics to match treatments with genetic changes. New methods analyzing tumor DNA, even from small samples, expand personalized oncology options.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Genetics
Context:
- Personalized therapy is revolutionizing oncology by tailoring treatments to individual tumor genetic alterations.
- Comprehensive molecular tumor characterization is crucial for selecting optimal patient therapies.
- Increasingly complex genetic targets and limited tissue samples pose challenges for molecular diagnostics.
Purpose:
- To highlight the essential role of molecular diagnostics in personalized oncology.
- To discuss the challenges presented by numerous treatable genetic alterations and resistance mechanisms.
- To introduce advanced diagnostic methods for molecular tumor characterization.
Summary:
- Personalized cancer therapies require detailed molecular profiling of tumors to guide treatment selection.
- Advanced techniques now allow genetic analysis from various sources, including circulating tumor DNA.
- These methods overcome limitations of traditional tissue biopsies, expanding diagnostic capabilities.
Impact:
- Enables more precise and effective cancer treatments tailored to individual patients.
- Addresses the growing complexity of molecular diagnostics in oncology.
- Improves diagnostic options for patients with limited or challenging tumor samples.
