Clinical application of liquid biopsy in endometrial carcinoma

Med Oncol. 2023 Feb 9;40(3):92. doi: 10.1007/s12032-023-01956-4.

Abstract

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignant tumor in women, and its morbidity and mortality have been rising in recent years. Over the past two decades, the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies for endometrial cancer have not significantly improved, and reliable biomarkers for detecting and monitoring EC recurrence and progression remain limited. Tumor genome analysis identified molecular alterations related to the growth and progression of endometrial cancer, but these data are incomplete. Recently, through extensive exploration of liquid biopsy, it has been determined that circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA can lay a foundation for real-time and non-invasive monitoring of tumors and provide novel insights into cancer evolution, invasion, and metastasis. Hence, this review aimed to analyze the value of liquid biopsy in endometrial cancer screening, early diagnosis, treatment response, and prognosis monitoring in order to prolong the survival time of EC patients.

Keywords: Circulating tumor DNA; Circulating tumor cells; Endometrial cancer; Liquid biopsy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Circulating Tumor DNA*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Endometrial Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Endometrial Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liquid Biopsy
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating* / pathology
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Circulating Tumor DNA