Liquid Biopsy in Breast Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Genomics

Background:

• Liquid biopsy, encompassing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free nucleic acids, is gaining prominence in breast cancer management.
• Numerous studies confirm the significant prognostic value of CTC detection across early and advanced disease stages.
• Dynamic changes in CTCs and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) during treatment reflect therapeutic response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the growing importance of liquid biopsy in breast cancer diagnostics and monitoring.
• To underscore the prognostic and predictive value of CTCs and ctDNA.
• To discuss the current focus on developing liquid biopsy-guided therapeutic strategies for metastatic breast cancer.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing clinical trials and research findings on liquid biopsy in breast cancer.
• Analysis of the prognostic significance of CTC detection.
• Correlation of CTC and ctDNA level changes with treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• CTC detection demonstrates high prognostic significance in both early and metastatic breast cancer.
• Monitoring CTC and ctDNA levels provides insights into treatment efficacy.
• Research is actively pursuing therapeutic interventions guided by liquid biopsy findings.

Conclusions:

• Liquid biopsy is a vital tool for breast cancer prognosis and treatment evaluation.
• The field is advancing towards personalized therapies based on liquid biopsy data.
• Alpelisib represents a pioneering example of a targeted therapy approved for use in conjunction with liquid biopsy insights.