Track 48: Liquid Biopsy and Circulating Biomarkers

🔹 What Is a Liquid Biopsy?

A liquid biopsy is a minimally invasive diagnostic technique that detects and analyzes cancer-related materials in body fluids—most commonly blood, but also urine, saliva, or cerebrospinal fluid.

It identifies and monitors cancer through components such as:

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) – fragments of DNA shed by cancer cells into the bloodstream.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) – intact cancer cells that have detached from the primary tumor.

Exosomes and extracellular vesicles – small particles carrying tumor-derived RNA, proteins, and DNA.

Tumor-derived RNA and microRNAs – molecular signatures reflecting tumor gene expression.

Liquid biopsy offers a real-time snapshot of a tumor’s genetic and molecular profile without the need for surgical or tissue-based biopsies.

🔹 What Are Circulating Biomarkers?

Circulating biomarkers are biological molecules—such as DNA, RNA, proteins, or metabolites—released by cancer cells into body fluids.

They serve as measurable indicators of:

Tumor presence and stage

Genetic mutations or treatment resistance

Therapy response and disease recurrence

These biomarkers provide crucial information about tumor evolution and can guide personalized cancer treatment.

🧩 Subtopics to Cover

Here’s a well-organized list of research and discussion subthemes under this track:

1. Types and Sources of Circulating Biomarkers

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs)

Exosomes and microvesicles

microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs

Protein-based biomarkers

2. Technological Advances in Liquid Biopsy

Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and digital PCR

Microfluidics and nanotechnology-based capture systems

AI and Machine Learning in biomarker analysis

Multi-omics integration (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics)

3. Clinical Applications

Early cancer detection and screening

Monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD)

Predicting treatment resistance and disease progression

Guiding precision and targeted therapies

Tracking tumor heterogeneity and evolution

4. Liquid Biopsy in Specific Cancers

Breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate cancers

Hematologic malignancies

Pediatric and rare tumors

CNS tumors (using CSF samples)

5. Challenges and Limitations

Sensitivity and specificity issues in early-stage disease

Standardization and reproducibility of assays

Interpretation of variant significance

Regulatory and ethical considerations

6. Future Perspectives

Integration into routine clinical practice

Multi-analyte liquid biopsy panels

Real-time treatment monitoring and adaptive therapies

Role in personalized and preventive oncology

💡 Importance of Liquid Biopsy & Circulating Biomarkers

Minimally Invasive: Enables cancer detection and monitoring without surgical tissue biopsies.

Real-Time Disease Tracking: Reflects tumor dynamics and evolution continuously.

Personalized Medicine: Helps tailor treatments based on genetic and molecular tumor profiles.

Early Detection & Recurrence Monitoring: Detects relapse or resistance before clinical symptoms appear.

Broad Applicability: Useful for patients where tissue samples are hard to obtain.

Improved Patient Comfort & Compliance: Simple blood draws instead of invasive procedures.