Challenges and achievements of liquid biopsy technologies employed in early breast cancer

EBioMedicine. 2020 Dec:62:103100. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.103100. Epub 2020 Nov 9.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type in women worldwide and its early detection is crucial to curing the disease. Tissue biopsy, currently the method of choice to obtain tumour molecular information, is invasive and might be affected by tumour heterogeneity rendering it incapable to portray the complete molecular picture. Liquid biopsy permits to study disease features in a more comprehensive manner by sampling biofluids and extracting tumour components such as circulating-tumour DNA (ctDNA), circulating-tumour cells (CTCs), and/or circulating-tumour RNA (ctRNA) amongst others in a monitoring-compatible manner. In this review, we describe the recent progress in the utilization of the circulating tumour components using early breast cancer samples. We review the most important analytes and technologies employed for their study.

Keywords: Circulating-tumour DNA; Circulating-tumour RNA; Circulating-tumour cells; Liquid biopsy; Localized breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor*
  • Breast Neoplasms / blood*
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / etiology
  • Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
  • Circulating Tumor DNA
  • Clinical Decision-Making
  • Disease Management
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Early Detection of Cancer / methods*
  • Early Detection of Cancer / standards
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liquid Biopsy / methods*
  • Liquid Biopsy / standards
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
  • Circulating Tumor DNA