The omics technologies and liquid biopsies: Advantages, limitations, applications

Abstract

Over the last few years, the development of so-called omics technologies has greatly contributed to the discovery of new biomarkers and targets, embracing various fields from diagnostics to therapy and contributing to meliorate the advance of precision and personalized medicine. In addition to classic omics, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, newer-generation omics technologies and their platforms, such as microbiomics and nutrigenomics, are emerging. In parallel, the use of liquid biopsies, as optimal biological samples, consisting in biological fluids (i.e. blood, saliva, and urine) easy to collect, and whose components (cells, nucleic acids, exosome) can be analysed using throughput techniques, is becoming an attractive, because enables the extrapolation of big data via multi-omics technologies. Here, we report a brief description and discussion of such technologies, by evidencing applications and eventual limitations.