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Updated: Oct 12, 2025
Detection of Cell-Free DNA in Blood Plasma Samples of Cancer Patients
Published on: September 9, 2020
Cell-free DNA technologies for the analysis of brain cancer
Richard Mair1,2,3, Florent Mouliere4
1Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, CB2 0RE, Cambridge, UK. richard.mair@cruk.cam.ac.uk.
Abstract:
Survival for glioma patients has shown minimal improvement over the past 20 years. The ability to detect and monitor gliomas relies primarily upon imaging technologies that lack sensitivity and specificity, especially during the post-surgical treatment phase. Treatment-response monitoring with an effective liquid-biopsy paradigm may also provide the most facile clinical scenario for liquid-biopsy integration into brain-tumour care. Conceptually, liquid biopsy is advantageous when compared with both tissue sampling (less invasive) and imaging (more sensitive and specific), but is hampered by technical and biological problems. These problems predominantly relate to low concentrations of tumour-derived DNA in the bloodstream of glioma patients. In this review, we highlight methods by which the neuro-oncological scientific and clinical communities have attempted to circumvent this limitation. The use of novel biological, technological and computational approaches will be explored. The utility of alternate bio-fluids, tumour-guided sequencing, epigenomic and fragmentomic methods may eventually be leveraged to provide the biological and technological means to unlock a wide range of clinical applications for liquid biopsy in glioma.
Insights
Glioma patient survival has stagnated. This review explores liquid biopsy advancements, like novel bio-fluids and sequencing, to overcome challenges in detecting brain tumors and monitoring treatment response.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Glioma patient survival rates have seen minimal improvement in two decades.
- Current imaging technologies for glioma detection and monitoring lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity, particularly post-surgery.
- Effective liquid biopsy methods are needed for improved brain tumor care and treatment-response monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current methods addressing limitations in liquid biopsy for glioma.
- To explore novel biological, technological, and computational approaches for glioma detection and monitoring.
- To highlight the potential of liquid biopsy in advancing brain tumor care.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on liquid biopsy techniques for glioma.
- Exploration of novel biological strategies, including alternate bio-fluids.
- Examination of technological and computational advancements, such as tumor-guided sequencing, epigenomics, and fragmentomics.
Main Results:
- Liquid biopsy faces challenges due to low concentrations of tumor-derived DNA in patient blood.
- Various methods are being investigated to overcome these limitations in neuro-oncology.
- Advancements in bio-fluid analysis, sequencing, and computational methods show promise.
Conclusions:
- Liquid biopsy offers a less invasive and potentially more sensitive/specific alternative to tissue sampling and imaging for glioma.
- Overcoming technical hurdles related to low tumor DNA concentrations is crucial for clinical application.
- Future research leveraging novel approaches may unlock broad clinical utility for liquid biopsy in glioma management.
