An
important aim in cancer management is to obtain a detailed molecular portrait
of an individual’s tumour and be able to use this information to provide a
personalised treatment approach that is more targeted, has superior efficacy
and is associated with less toxicity.
Our increasing understanding of the genomic landscape of human tumours
and the rational development of biomarkers that can translate this information
into the clinic are key to achieving this aim.
The ability to identify
and quantify cell-free circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in the bloodstream of
patients with cancer is opening up new opportunities for noninvasive molecular
disease monitoring in several malignancies.
Circulating tumour-derived nucleic acids harbor the somatic
genomic alterations found in a patient’s tumour, thus serving as a highly
specific cancer biomarker. Recent
technological advances are providing new prospects to employ ctDNA in various
facets of cancer diagnostics and management.
Clinical applications of ctDNA analysis include
monitoring treatment response, detecting early recurrence and identifying
emerging treatment resistance, and these approaches are likely to expand in
coming years as the analysis of ctDNA using next-generation sequencing evolves. I will present an overview of recent
developments in ctDNA biomarker research and its potential to facilitate
personalised treatment approaches.