WHAT IS LIQUID BIOPSY?
What does a liquid biopsy look for?
Circulating cell-free tumour DNA
At present the majority are looking at circulating cell-free tumour DNA (cfDNA): fragments of DNA from tumour cells that have died and been broken down. Analysis of these fragments can provide information about changes in the cancer cells’ genomes (somatic mutations), as well as about epigenetic changes caused by methylation, which affects which genes are switched on or off.
The PURE Colon Liquid Biopsy test does look at methylation signatures which is called circulating tumour methylated DNA.
More information about this specific test can be found here.
Circulating Tumour Cells
There is also another type of liquid biopsy available that looks for the presence of metastatic cancer cells directly in the blood, providing details as to how cancer cells spread to other parts of the body.
This type is not widely used at present within general healthcare but as more research is carried out and the accuracy improves there will be more access to this form of liquid biopsy test.
The potential that Liquid Biopsy testing offers is exciting as by detecting cancer at an early stage will mean better treatment outcomes and greatly improve cancer care worldwide.