What is Liquid Biopsy? What Does It Do?

Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive diagnostic method based on the analysis of free-floating tumor cells (CTC) in the blood or tumor-derived extracellular free-floating DNA (ccfDNA). The blood taken from the patient to a special tube and the DNA of the tumor are analyzed for the presence of cancer biomarkers without requiring a surgical procedure.

What Does Liquid Biopsy Do?

By performing a liquid biopsy, the genetic structure (genotyping) of the tumor is analyzed in the plasma. In this way;

• early diagnosis of cancer,
• detection of minimal residual disease (if there is a small amount of tumor remaining after treatment),
• disease-specific drug selection,
• monitoring of progression and response to treatment can be performed.

When is Liquid Biopsy Performed?

In particular, it is not possible to take traditional tissue biopsy, the progression of the disease, the emergence of a new body area, etc. Liquid biopsy provides a great advantage in cases where the archival material obtained from the biopsy performed at the first diagnosis is not informative for reasons.
With its easy reproducibility, it is a groundbreaking diagnostic method in addition to diagnosis, in monitoring the treatment decision and response to treatment.

Which Cancers Are Liquid Biopsy Widely Used?

Recent studies,

• breast cancer,
• colorectal cancer,
• diffuse large B-cell lymphoma,
• stomach cancer,
• lung
• pancreatic cancers
• . In this way, if the disease recurs, it can be detected early.

Liquid biopsy guides clinicians in the follow-up of the progression of the disease and the response to the drug after the treatment, while deciding on the drugs to be used in the treatment, for example, in patients with lung cancer who do not have the possibility of cancerous tissue biopsy.

Advantages of Liquid Biopsy

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