Liquid Biopsy in the OMICS Era of Tumor Medicine

Denong Wang

doi:10.32474/oajbeb.2018.01.000115

Abstract

Liquid biopsy uses noninvasive blood test to assess tumor heterogeneity and evolution in real time. It looks for tumor components in the blood circulation, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), to provide tumor-specific information. By detecting multiplex tumor biomarkers, including nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and other tumor-derived substances, liquid biopsy helps with early tumor diagnosis, tumor evolution monitoring, and prognosis prediction. With the development of high-throughput OMICS tools like carbohydrate microarray and high-speed fiber-optic array scanning technology (FAST scan), it is now practical to identify glycan markers of CTCs and cancer stem cells (CSCs), especially those that are cell-surface exposed and readily accessible for immune recognition and targeting. Potential of this class of biomarkers in tumor subtyping and targeted immunotherapy is yet to be explored.

Highlights

For long time, traditional tissue biopsy has been considered as “golden standard” for tumor diagnosis and assessment
Questions have been raised: “Can we find a noninvasive test to provide adequate information of tumor?” As the development of new technologies, liquid biopsy comes as a blood test for tumor analysis
It uses peripheral blood test to look for tumor components, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs), ct DNA, tumor-derived exosome, and tumor-educated blood platelets (TEPs), etc

Summary

Introduction

Traditional tissue biopsy has been considered as “golden standard” for tumor diagnosis and assessment. Questions have been raised: “Can we find a noninvasive test to provide adequate information of tumor?” As the development of new technologies, liquid biopsy comes as a blood test for tumor analysis. Liquid biopsy provides a new noninvasive modality to assess tumor heterogeneity and evolution in real time.

Results

Conclusion