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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
A Standardized Liquid Biopsy Preanalytical Protocol for Downstream Circulating-Free DNA Applications
Published on: September 16, 2022
[GFCO national recommendations on the use of liquid biopsy for circulating tumor DNA analysis in oncology]
Alexandre Harlé1, Léa Payen2, Alexandra Lespagnol3
1Service de médecine de précision et recherche translationnelle, institut de cancérologie de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7039 CRAN, université de Lorraine, 54519 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
Introduction:
The analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) by liquid biopsy is a major advance in the management of patients with cancer, offering a minimally invasive method for detecting tumor genetic alterations and enabling personalized monitoring. Faced with complex technological challenges and the need for rigorous validation, the French-Speaking Group for Oncological Cytogenomics (GFCO) has established national consensus guidelines.
Methods:
These guidelines, designed to govern ctDNA analysis, were developed using the Delphi consensus methodology. A questionnaire developed by a working group of eight biologists and two bioinformaticians was submitted to 55 French platforms specializing in liquid biopsy in oncology. A participation rate of 71% was achieved. Consensus was defined by an agreement threshold of at least 80%. A live discussion and voting session was held during the GFCO 2024 Days for items that did not initially reach this threshold.
Results:
The validated recommendations cover the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases. In total, 37 recommendations with a consensus exceeding 80% were adopted.
Conclusion:
These GFCO recommendations provide a standardized framework for the use of liquid biopsy in oncology in France. Regular updates will be necessary to adapt to the rapid evolution of the technology.
