Liquid biopsy in cancer using the Z-scan technique: a new approach to discover biomarkers in cancer

Fernando Luiz Affonso Fonseca; Glaucia Luciano da Veiga; Beatriz da Costa Aguiar Alves; Sarah Isabel Pinto Monteiro do Nascimento Alves

doi:10.2144/fsoa-2020-0054

Liquid biopsy in cancer using the Z-scan technique: a new approach to discover biomarkers in cancer

Future Sci OA. 2020 Oct 20;7(1):FSO638. doi: 10.2144/fsoa-2020-0054.

Authors

Fernando Luiz Affonso Fonseca^{1

2}, Glaucia Luciano da Veiga¹, Beatriz da Costa Aguiar Alves¹, Sarah Isabel Pinto Monteiro do Nascimento Alves²

Affiliations

¹ Clinical Analysis Laboratory, Centro Universitário Saúde ABC, Santo André 06090-650, Brazil.
² Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF), Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, Diadema 09972-270, Brazil.

Abstract

Aim: Biomarkers have been broadly studied as a tool for the diagnosis and prognosis for different types of cancer. Z-scan is a kind of measurement technique that generates a nonlinear refractive index (n₂). Today, Z-scan has been used in oncology to discriminate between solid tumors and to identify tumor circulating cell-free DNA in liquid samples.

Materials & methods: According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria defined in this review, 35 articles were selected.

Conclusion: The use of this technique for this kind of measurement will allow for a rapid and precise diagnosis of different types of tumor and may lead to better therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: Z-scan; biomarker; cancer; diagnostic; liquid biopsy.

Publication types

Review