Abstract
Liquid biopsies represent an attractive, minimally-invasive alternative to surgical sampling or complex imaging of breast cancer and breast cancer metastasis. Here we present a summary of the major biomarker components often evaluated in liquid biopsy samples from patients with breast cancer, including circulating tumor cells, circulating cell-free tumor DNA, and cancer-associated plasma proteins. We discuss recent advancements in methods of detection and use of these biomarkers in breast cancer. Finally, we highlight some of our own recent contributions to breast cancer liquid biopsy, including the identification and characterization of circulating Cancer Associated Fibroblasts.
Highlights
Since the first reported observation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) by Ashworth[1] in 1869, there has been significant interest in assessing CTCs and other circulating biomarkers in cancer patients, their associations with disease state and prognosis, and their potential value as predictors of treatment response or tools to monitor disease progression
The biomarkers most commonly evaluated in liquid biopsy studies are CTCs, circulating cell-free tumor DNA, and protein biomarkers found in plasma or serum
Our recent collaborative research efforts have focused on the discovery and validation of circulating cancer associated fibroblasts as a novel cancer biomarker, and the use of liquid biopsy to monitor levels of cCAFs and other circulating biomarkers associated with breast cancer stage, metastasis, survival, and therapeutic response
Summary
Since the first reported observation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) by Ashworth[1] in 1869, there has been significant interest in assessing CTCs and other circulating biomarkers in cancer patients, their associations with disease state and prognosis, and their potential value as predictors of treatment response or tools to monitor disease progression. The biomarkers most commonly evaluated in liquid biopsy studies are CTCs, circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA), and protein biomarkers found in plasma or serum.
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