Monitoring tumor-derived cell-free DNA in patients with solid tumors: Clinical perspectives and research opportunities

• Published in: Cancer treatment reviews 2014-06, Vol.40 (5), p.648-655
• Main Authors: Esposito, Angela, Bardelli, Alberto, Criscitiello, Carmen, Colombo, Nicoletta, Gelao, Lucia, Fumagalli, Luca, Minchella, Ida, Locatelli, Marzia, Goldhirsch, Aron, Curigliano, Giuseppe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antineoplastic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Breast cancer; Carcinogenesis - genetics; Carcinogenesis - metabolism; Cell free DNA; Circulating nucleic acids; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - blood; Colorectal Neoplasms - genetics; Colorectal Neoplasms - physiopathology; Disease Progression; DNA, Neoplasm - blood; DNA, Neoplasm - genetics; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - blood; Lung Neoplasms - genetics; Lung Neoplasms - physiopathology; Male; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Monitoring, Physiologic - methods; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); Neoplasms - blood; Neoplasms - genetics; Neoplasms - physiopathology; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating - metabolism; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian Neoplasms - blood; Ovarian Neoplasms - genetics; Ovarian Neoplasms - physiopathology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plasma/serum DNA; Pneumology; Predictive Value of Tests; Prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - blood; Prostatic Neoplasms - genetics; Prostatic Neoplasms - physiopathology; Risk Assessment; Tumors; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum
• ISSN: 0305-7372; 1532-1967
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2013.10.003

Abstract Circulating cell-free DNA represents a non-invasive biomarker, as it can be isolated from human plasma, serum and other body fluids. Circulating tumor DNA shed from primary and metastatic cancers may allow the non-invasive analysis of the evolution of tumor genomes during treatment and disease progression through ‘liquid biopsies’. The serial monitoring of tumor genotypes, which are instable and prone to changes under selection pressure, is becoming increasingly possible. The “liquid biopsy” provide novel biological insights into the process of metastasis and may elucidate signaling pathways involved in cell invasiveness and metastatic competence. This review will focus on the clinical utility of circulating cell free DNA in main solid tumors, including genetic and epigenetic alterations that can be detected.