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Updated: Mar 16, 2026
A Standardized Liquid Biopsy Preanalytical Protocol for Downstream Circulating-Free DNA Applications
Published on: September 16, 2022
Pathologists and liquid biopsies: to be or not to be?
Paul Hofman1,2,3,4, Helmut H Popper5
1Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Pasteur Hospital, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, 30 Voie Romaine, 06001, Nice Cedex 01, France. hofman.p@chu-nice.fr.
Liquid biopsies, analyzing nucleic acids in blood, offer a revolutionary approach to cancer care by identifying genomic alterations for targeted therapies and monitoring treatment effectiveness. Pathologists face new challenges in integrating these advanced molecular analyses into routine oncology practice.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Pathology
- Genomics
Background:
- Targeted therapies for cancer have advanced significantly due to the identification of genomic alterations.
- Liquid biopsies, analyzing circulating nucleic acids in blood, provide an alternative to traditional tissue biopsies.
- These advancements offer potential for more effective cancer treatments and patient monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the concept and development of liquid biopsies in oncology.
- To compare the advantages and limitations of liquid versus tissue molecular analyses.
- To outline challenges for pathologists in adopting liquid biopsy practices and strategies for detecting metastatic clones.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent data on liquid biopsies in cancer care.
- Comparative analysis of molecular detection in blood versus tissue samples.
- Discussion of challenges and strategies for pathologists in liquid biopsy implementation.
Main Results:
- Liquid biopsies enable identification of genomic alterations for targeted therapy.
- They facilitate short-term monitoring of treatment efficacy and resistance mutations.
- Pathologists need to adapt to molecular analysis of blood samples.
Conclusions:
- Liquid biopsies are revolutionizing oncology by enabling personalized treatments and monitoring.
- Collaboration among oncologists, biologists, geneticists, and pathologists is crucial for effective implementation.
- Addressing challenges in sample handling and analysis is key to optimizing patient care.
