Cell-Free DNA in Oncology: Gearing up for Clinic

Ann Lab Med. 2018 Jan;38(1):1-8. doi: 10.3343/alm.2018.38.1.1.

Abstract

In the past several years, interest in the clinical utility of cell-free DNA as a noninvasive cancer biomarker has grown rapidly. Success in the development of plasma genotyping assays and other liquid biopsy assays has widened the scope of cell-free DNA use in research and the clinic. Already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the narrow context of epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated non-small cell lung cancer, plasma genotyping assays are currently being investigated in a wide array of clinical settings and modalities. These include plasma genotyping as a tool for early diagnosis, the detection of minimal residual disease, and the evaluation of treatment response/progression. In this review, we assess the clinical landscape of plasma genotyping assays and propose strategies for their further expansion into routine clinical care.

Keywords: Cell-free DNA; Clinical trials; Liquid biopsy; Non-invasive biomarkers; Plasma genotyping.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Cell-Free Nucleic Acids / analysis*
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Genotyping Techniques
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm, Residual / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
  • ErbB Receptors