The following abstract is drawn from a recently published paper in OncoTargets and Therapy – Dove Medical Press Open Access Publisher | Dove Medical Press. We invite you to read the full paper and join the conversation, become a member of the Pathology News community to share your thoughts, ask questions, and engage with others around this work.
Authors: Yaqiong Guo1, Xueling Wei1, Lin Zhu1, Minghui Xiu2
Abstract
Liquid biopsy has emerged as a revolutionary, minimally invasive approach in precision oncology, enabling dynamic molecular profiling of tumors through analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), exosomes, and other biomarkers in body fluids. Focusing specifically on recent advances from 2023 to 2026, this review provides a laboratory-centered critical synthesis addressing the core operational questions for clinical implementation: which liquid biopsy platform should be selected for specific analytes and clinical intents, under what pre-analytical and analytical constraints, and with what quality-control and clinical utility standards. Key technological developments include highly sensitive next-generation sequencing (NGS) with unique molecular identifiers (UMIs), digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), multi-omics integration, and artificial intelligence-assisted interpretation, which have improved detection sensitivity to ultra-low variant allele frequencies. Major clinical applications encompass multi-cancer early detection (MCED), companion diagnostics, real-time treatment monitoring, minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment, and resistance mutation tracking. These tools often provide earlier insights than imaging and better capture tumor heterogeneity. Compared with tissue biopsy, liquid biopsy offers advantages in repeatability, speed, and systemic representation, though challenges remain in sensitivity for early-stage disease, standardization, cost-effectiveness, and implementation in grassroots hospitals. Future directions emphasize multi-omics, AI, and automated workflows to enhance its role across the cancer continuum. This review highlights practical recommendations for clinical laboratories, positioning liquid biopsy as a cornerstone of personalized, proactive oncology care.
Read the full article: Advances in Liquid Biopsy for Precision Oncology: Applications, Challe | OTT | Dove Medical Press
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second People’s Hospital of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, People’s Republic of China
2Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, People’s Republic of China
