Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

6.3K
Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
6.3K
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

2.3K
2.3K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

7.4K
Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
7.4K
Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

6.8K
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
6.8K
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

8.1K
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
8.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Tumor-type specific methylation patterns of MTAP in human samples and cell lines.

Clinical epigenetics·2026
Same author

From trial-and-error to inverse design: how AI is redefining drug delivery systems.

Drug discovery today·2026
Same author

Cooperative molecular interaction networks govern PARP1 inhibitor selectivity and binding affinity.

PLoS computational biology·2026
Same author

Correction to: Rational design of lipid-based nanoparticles for targeted anticancer therapies.

Drug delivery and translational research·2026
Same author

Guanidine-Based Ligands in Bioinorganic Chemistry: Coordination Modes and Applications in Anticancer Metallodrugs.

Bioinorganic chemistry and applications·2026
Same author

Corrigendum to "Antitumoral activity of a CDK12 inhibitor in colorectal cancer through a liposomal formulation" [Biomed. Pharmacother. 178 (2024) 117165].

Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Detection of Cell-Free DNA in Blood Plasma Samples of Cancer Patients
08:25

Detection of Cell-Free DNA in Blood Plasma Samples of Cancer Patients

Published on: September 9, 2020

12.0K

Circulating DNA and Survival in Solid Tumors.

Alberto Ocaña1, Laura Díez-González2, Dolores C García-Olmo2

  • 1Translational Oncology Unit, Albacete University Hospital, Albacete, Spain. albertoo@sescam.jccm.es.

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention : a Publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, Cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology
|November 26, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

High levels of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in blood are linked to poorer overall survival in patients with solid tumors. This blood-based biomarker may help predict clinical outcomes.

More Related Videos

Detection and Monitoring of Tumor Associated Circulating DNA in Patient Biofluids
06:53

Detection and Monitoring of Tumor Associated Circulating DNA in Patient Biofluids

Published on: June 8, 2019

9.3K
A Standardized Liquid Biopsy Preanalytical Protocol for Downstream Circulating-Free DNA Applications
05:26

A Standardized Liquid Biopsy Preanalytical Protocol for Downstream Circulating-Free DNA Applications

Published on: September 16, 2022

4.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Detection of Cell-Free DNA in Blood Plasma Samples of Cancer Patients
08:25

Detection of Cell-Free DNA in Blood Plasma Samples of Cancer Patients

Published on: September 9, 2020

12.0K
Detection and Monitoring of Tumor Associated Circulating DNA in Patient Biofluids
06:53

Detection and Monitoring of Tumor Associated Circulating DNA in Patient Biofluids

Published on: June 8, 2019

9.3K
A Standardized Liquid Biopsy Preanalytical Protocol for Downstream Circulating-Free DNA Applications
05:26

A Standardized Liquid Biopsy Preanalytical Protocol for Downstream Circulating-Free DNA Applications

Published on: September 16, 2022

4.8K

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Diagnostics
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Tissue accessibility for molecular analysis is a limitation in cancer prognosis.
  • Circulating free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in blood offer potential for easier tumor material access.
  • These biomarkers may aid in predicting clinical outcomes for solid tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between cfDNA or ctDNA and overall survival (OS) in solid tumors.
  • To evaluate the prognostic value of circulating DNA in cancer patients.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of electronic databases for studies on cfDNA/ctDNA and OS in solid tumors.
  • Meta-analysis of hazard ratios (HRs) from multivariable analyses.
  • Estimation of univariable odds ratios (ORs) from Kaplan-Meier curves for studies lacking multivariable data.

Main Results:

  • Analysis included 39 studies with 4,052 patients.
  • ctDNA detection significantly correlated with worse OS (multivariable HR: 2.70; univariable OR: 4.83).
  • High total cfDNA levels also associated with worse OS (multivariable HR: 1.91; univariable OR: 2.82).

Conclusions:

  • Elevated total cfDNA and the presence of ctDNA are associated with poorer survival in solid tumors.
  • Circulating DNA serves as a significant prognostic indicator in solid tumors.
  • Blood-based cfDNA and ctDNA analysis shows promise for predicting patient outcomes.