Circulating Tumor DNA as a Biomarker in Pancreatic Cancer: Clinical Applications and Challenges

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Genomics

Background:

• Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal gastrointestinal malignancy.
• Precision oncology increasingly requires tumor molecular profiling for advanced cancer treatment.
• Invasive biopsies pose risks, driving interest in alternative methods like liquid biopsies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review technologies and methodologies for detecting circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA).
• To highlight opportunities for overcoming challenges in cfDNA detection and clinical application.
• To support the integration of liquid biopsies into pancreatic cancer treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of current technologies and methodologies for cfDNA detection.
• Analysis of challenges hindering widespread liquid biopsy application.
• Summary of recent circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) studies in pancreatic cancer.

Main Results:

• cfDNA presents a promising, minimally invasive approach for cancer detection and monitoring.
• Significant challenges remain in achieving clinical sensitivity and assay accessibility for cfDNA.
• Evaluating ctDNA burden is crucial for clinical integration and adaptive cancer management.

Conclusions:

• Liquid biopsies using cfDNA have the potential to transform precision oncology.
• Addressing technical and clinical challenges is essential for widespread adoption of cfDNA-based diagnostics.
• Further research and validation are needed to fully realize the clinical utility of cfDNA in pancreatic cancer surveillance and treatment.