Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Liquid Biopsies in Non-Invasive Cancer Monitoring

Researchers are finding that liquid biopsies, which are samples of blood, saliva, or pee that are not solid, can be used to find biomarkers that can help diagnose and track cancer. Traditional tissue biopsies are invasive and may not always be possible. Liquid biopsies, on the other hand, can be used over and over again and in real time to find genetic changes linked to cancer, differences in tumors, and treatment reactions. This piece talks about the diagnostic and predictive worth of liquid samples in cancer care. It focuses on how they can help with early diagnosis, tracking the development of the disease, figuring out the minimal residual disease (MRD), and guessing how well treatment will work. A liquid biopsy has gotten a lot of attention as an early cancer screening method because it can find genetic changes early on, often before any signs show up. It is possible to find cancer-related changes in cell-free DNA (cfDNA), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using liquid samples. This information can help with early action and specific treatment plans. Liquid biopsies also show differences between tumors and how genes change over time, which is very important for figuring out how drug resistance works. Liquid biopsy has been very helpful for figuring out how well treatment is working and finding relapses. Monitoring ctDNA levels in real time can show how much of a tumor there is, which lets doctors see how well treatment is working and make changes to treatment plans as required. The amount and prevalence of ctDNA have been linked to tumor growth, showing an early sign of recurrence even before regular imaging methods show disease that can be seen by a doctor.