Updates on Liquid Biopsy and ctDNA in Transplant Oncology

Transplant oncology is a rapidly evolving discipline that incorporates oncology, transplant medicine, and surgery. As the field continues to grow, there remains an opportunity to enhance patient selection, detect recurrence after liver transplantation, and optimize treatment after recurrence. Liquid biopsies are an emerging resource to improve patient care. In this review, we evaluate the most recent available data on circulating tumor DNA and how it pertains to primary and metastatic hepatobiliary malignancies. We discuss the opportunities and current limitations to clinical practice, especially in relation to total hepatectomy and liver transplantation. We conclude that as both transplant oncology and our understanding of circulating tumor DNA continue to evolve, rigorous, prospective study is required to integrate this technology into a clinical paradigm.