Cell-Free DNA: Applications in Different Diseases.

Abstract

Since its discovery in human blood plasma about 70years ago, circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has become an attractive subject of research as noninvasive disease biomarker. The interest in clinical applications has gained an exponential increase, making it a popular and potential target in a wide range of research areas.cfDNA can be found in different body fluids, both in healthy and not healthy subjects. The recent and rapid development of new molecular techniques is promoting the study and the identification of cfDNA, holding the key to minimally invasive diagnostics, improving disease monitoring, clinical decision, and patients' outcome.cfDNA has already given a huge impact on prenatal medicine, and it could become, in the next future, the standard of care also in other fields, from oncology to transplant medicine and cardiovascular diseases.