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Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Application.

Literature Information

DOI10.1158/2159-8290.CD-20-1311
PMID33811121
JournalCancer discovery
Impact Factor33.3
JCR QuartileQ1
Publication Year2021
Times Cited476
KeywordsLiquid Biopsy, Circulating Tumor Cells, Circulating Tumor DNA, Cancer Detection, Translational Research
Literature TypeJournal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review
ISSN2159-8274
Pages858-873
Issue11(4)
AuthorsCatherine Alix-Panabières, Klaus Pantel

TL;DR

This research highlights the growing significance of circulating tumor cells (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as promising biomarkers in cancer diagnostics and treatment monitoring over the last decade. By proposing a conceptual framework for their assays and addressing current challenges, the study emphasizes the potential of liquid biopsies to enhance early cancer detection, staging, and real-time assessment of therapeutic efficacy.

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Liquid Biopsy · Circulating Tumor Cells · Circulating Tumor DNA · Cancer Detection · Translational Research

Abstract

Over the past 10 years, circulating tumor cells (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) have received enormous attention as new biomarkers and subjects of translational research. Although both biomarkers are already used in numerous clinical trials, their clinical utility is still under investigation with promising first results. Clinical applications include early cancer detection, improved cancer staging, early detection of relapse, real-time monitoring of therapeutic efficacy, and detection of therapeutic targets and resistance mechanisms. Here, we propose a conceptual framework of CTC and ctDNA assays and point out current challenges of CTC and ctDNA research, which might structure this dynamic field of translational cancer research. SIGNIFICANCE: The analysis of blood for CTCs or cell-free nucleic acids called "liquid biopsy" has opened new avenues for cancer diagnostics, including early detection of tumors, improved risk assessment and staging, as well as early detection of relapse and monitoring of tumor evolution in the context of cancer therapies.

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Primary Questions Addressed

  1. What are the specific challenges faced in the clinical implementation of CTC and ctDNA assays?
  2. How do CTC and ctDNA biomarkers compare in terms of sensitivity and specificity for early cancer detection?
  3. What advancements in technology are being explored to enhance the accuracy of liquid biopsy results?
  4. In what ways can liquid biopsy contribute to personalized cancer treatment strategies?
  5. How do the regulatory frameworks impact the development and application of liquid biopsy tests in clinical settings?

Key Findings

Key Insights

  1. Research Background and Purpose
    The past decade has witnessed a significant surge in interest surrounding circulating tumor cells (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as innovative biomarkers in oncology. This research aims to explore the potential of these biomarkers for enhancing cancer diagnostics and treatment monitoring. The primary focus is on translating these findings from laboratory research into clinical applications, thereby addressing critical challenges in cancer detection, staging, and therapy response assessment.

  2. Main Methods and Findings
    The study reviews the current state of CTC and ctDNA assays, highlighting their roles in various clinical applications. These applications include:

    • Early Cancer Detection: Identifying tumors at initial stages through blood analysis, which could lead to timely interventions.
    • Improved Cancer Staging: Utilizing biomarkers for more accurate classification of cancer spread and severity.
    • Relapse Detection: Diagnosing cancer recurrence at an early stage, which is crucial for re-initiation of effective treatment.
    • Real-time Monitoring of Therapeutic Efficacy: Assessing the effectiveness of ongoing therapies through periodic blood tests.
    • Detection of Therapeutic Targets and Resistance Mechanisms: Identifying genetic alterations that may influence treatment responses and resistance pathways.

Despite the promising results observed in numerous clinical trials, the clinical utility of CTC and ctDNA remains an area of active investigation, with several challenges still to be addressed.

  1. Core Conclusions
    The findings underscore the potential of liquid biopsy techniques, which analyze blood samples for CTCs or cell-free nucleic acids, as transformative tools in cancer diagnostics and management. The proposed conceptual framework for CTC and ctDNA assays suggests a structured approach to navigating the complexities of this evolving field. However, the research also acknowledges significant hurdles, including standardization of assays, understanding biological variability, and integration into clinical workflows.

  2. Research Significance and Impact
    The significance of this research lies in its potential to revolutionize cancer diagnostics and treatment strategies. Liquid biopsy could lead to earlier tumor detection, improving patient outcomes through timely intervention. Furthermore, enhanced risk assessment and monitoring capabilities could personalize treatment regimens, ultimately contributing to more effective management of cancer patients. By addressing the current challenges and refining the methodologies, the study paves the way for broader clinical adoption of CTC and ctDNA assays, thereby impacting cancer care on a global scale. This research represents a critical step in bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and clinical practice, highlighting the need for continued innovation and collaboration in the field of translational cancer research.

Literatures Citing This Work

  1. The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the Progression of Human Neuroblastoma. - Danilo Marimpietri;Irma Airoldi;Angelo Corso Faini;Fabio Malavasi;Fabio Morandi - International journal of molecular sciences (2021)
  2. Genomic Landscape of Liquid Biopsy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Personalized Medicine. - Nurbubu T Moldogazieva;Sergey P Zavadskiy;Alexander A Terentiev - Cancer genomics & proteomics (2021)
  3. NGS-based liquid biopsy profiling identifies mechanisms of resistance to ALK inhibitors: a step toward personalized NSCLC treatment. - Estela Sánchez-Herrero;Roberto Serna-Blasco;Vadym Ivanchuk;Rosario García-Campelo;Manuel Dómine Gómez;José M Sánchez;Bartomeu Massutí;Noemi Reguart;Carlos Camps;Sandra Sanz-Moreno;Silvia Calabuig-Fariñas;Eloísa Jantus-Lewintre;Magdalena Arnal;Dietmar Fernández-Orth;Virginia Calvo;Víctor González-Rumayor;Mariano Provencio;Atocha Romero - Molecular oncology (2021)
  4. Liquid biopsy: from discovery to clinical implementation. - Catherine Alix-Panabières;Klaus Pantel - Molecular oncology (2021)
  5. In the literature: June 2021. - V Gambardella;L Candia;M Tapia;J M Cejalvo;A Cervantes - ESMO open (2021)
  6. Prognostic value of preoperative circulating tumor cells counts in patients with UICC stage I-IV colorectal cancer. - Thaer S A Abdalla;Jan Meiners;Sabine Riethdorf;Alexandra König;Nathaniel Melling;Tobias Gorges;Karl-F Karstens;Jakob R Izbicki;Klaus Pantel;Matthias Reeh - PloS one (2021)
  7. Molecular and Dynamic Evaluation of Proteins Related to Resistance to Neoadjuvant Treatment with Chemoradiotherapy in Circulating Tumor Cells of Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer. - Virgílio Souza E Silva;Emne Ali Abdallah;Bianca de Cássia Troncarelli Flores;Alexcia Camila Braun;Daniela de Jesus Ferreira Costa;Anna Paula Carreta Ruano;Vanessa Alves Gasparini;Maria Letícia Gobo Silva;Gustavo Gomes Mendes;Laura Carolina Lopez Claro;Vinicius Fernando Calsavara;Samuel Aguiar Junior;Celso Abdon Lopes de Mello;Ludmilla Thomé Domingos Chinen - Cells (2021)
  8. Opportunities and Challenges of Liquid Biopsy in Thyroid Cancer. - Chiara Romano;Federica Martorana;Maria Stella Pennisi;Stefania Stella;Michele Massimino;Elena Tirrò;Silvia Rita Vitale;Sandra Di Gregorio;Adriana Puma;Cristina Tomarchio;Livia Manzella - International journal of molecular sciences (2021)
  9. Liquid Biopsy Is a Promising Tool for Genetic Testing in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. - Pierlorenzo Pallante;Umberto Malapelle;Mariantonia Nacchio;Roberta Sgariglia;Domenico Galati;Ludovica Capitelli;Serena Zanotta;Mario Galgani;Erica Piemonte;Alessandro Sanduzzi Zamparelli;Gaetano Rea;Marialuisa Bocchino - Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) (2021)
  10. The Emerging Importance of Tumor Genomics in Operable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. - Harry B Lengel;James G Connolly;Gregory D Jones;Raul Caso;Jian Zhou;Francisco Sanchez-Vega;Brooke Mastrogiacomo;James M Isbell;Bob T Li;Yuan Liu;Natasha Rekhtman;David R Jones - Cancers (2021)

... (466 more literatures)


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