The Emerging Role of "Liquid Biopsies," Circulating Tumor Cells, and Circulating Cell-Free Tumor DNA in Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Identification of Resistance Mutations

Overview

Journal Curr Oncol Rep

Publisher Current Science

Specialty Oncology

Date 2017 Jan 23

PMID 28110461

Citations 25

Authors

Angela Esposito

Carmen Criscitiello

Dario Trapani

Giuseppe Curigliano

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Therapeutic advances in the treatment of lung cancer are in part due to a more complete understanding of its genomic portrait. The serial monitoring of tumor genotypes, which are instable and prone to changes under selective pressure, is becoming increasingly needed. Although tumor biopsies remain the reference standard for the diagnosis and genotyping of lung cancer, they are invasive and not always feasible. The "liquid biopsies" have the potential to overcome many of these hurdles, allowing a rapid and accurate identification of de novo and resistant genetic alterations and a real-time monitoring of treatment responses. In this review, we provide insights into new liquid diagnostic platforms and discuss the role of circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA in the diagnosis and identification of resistance mutations in lung cancer.

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