Cell-free Nucleic Acids As Biomarkers in Cancer Patients

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Cancer

Specialty Oncology

Date 2011 May 13

PMID 21562580

Citations 1232

Authors

Heidi Schwarzenbach

Dave S B Hoon

Klaus Pantel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

DNA, mRNA and microRNA are released and circulate in the blood of cancer patients. Changes in the levels of circulating nucleic acids have been associated with tumour burden and malignant progression. In the past decade a wealth of information indicating the potential use of circulating nucleic acids for cancer screening, prognosis and monitoring of the efficacy of anticancer therapies has emerged. In this Review, we discuss these findings with a specific focus on the clinical utility of cell-free nucleic acids as blood biomarkers.

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