Photo Credit: Nemes Laszlo
The following is a summary of “Liquid Biopsy in T-cell Lymphoma: Biomarker Detection Techniques and Clinical Application,” published in the February 2024 issue of Oncology by Huang et al.
T-cell lymphoma, characterized by significant heterogeneity, poses challenges in obtaining molecular data for patient categorization into genetic subtypes, traditionally accomplished through invasive tissue biopsy. However, this approach is impractical for critically ill patients, those with unresectable tumors, or those with low compliance, limiting accessibility to crucial molecular information.
Recognizing the imperative for a less invasive method, particularly for early diagnosis, prognostic monitoring, treatment response assessment, and detection of drug resistance, the clinical application of liquid biopsy techniques has emerged as a promising avenue in T-cell lymphoma. Liquid biopsy offers advantages such as minimal sample requirement, high reproducibility, and real-time molecular monitoring, facilitating personalized healthcare delivery. This review comprehensively outlines current liquid biopsy biomarkers utilized in T-cell lymphoma, encompassing circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA, antibodies, and cytokines. Furthermore, it delves into their clinical utility, detection methodologies, ongoing clinical trials, and the inherent challenges faced in the liquid biopsy landscape.
Source: molecular-cancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12943-024-01947-7