LIQUID BIOPSY
Liquid biopsy: transforming cancer research through circulating biomarkers
With technological advances driving innovation in oncology, Uwe Jäntges explores the transformative potential of liquid biopsy technology in cancer research, with a special focus on cfDNA analysis.
The field of cancer research has been significantly advanced using liquid biopsy technology, opening valuable new avenues for investigating tumour biology, evolution, and treatment response through minimally invasive blood sampling. By analysing circulating biomarkers present in bodily fluids (primarily blood), liquid biopsies provide researchers with unprecedented access to tumour- derived materials without invasive tissue sampling.
At its core, liquid biopsy leverages the
presence of tumour-derived materials in the bloodstream, including circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumour cells (CTCs), extracellular vesicles, and tumour-educated platelets.1
cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as a cornerstone biomarker with particularly promising research applications. This article explores the transformative potential of liquid biopsy technology in cancer research, with a special focus on
cfDNA analysis, its research applications, and the technological advances driving innovation in oncology.
Among these,
Biology of circulating biomarkers Cell-free DNA refers to short DNA fragments that circulate in the bloodstream after being released from cells throughout the body. These fragments typically range from 150 to 200 base pairs in length, corresponding to the DNA wrapped around a single nucleosome plus linker DNA. This characteristic fragment size patern serves as a fingerprint of their cellular origin and has become a valuable research tool. The release of cfDNA occurs through
several biological processes, primarily: 1 Apoptosis: programmed cell death results in systematic DNA fragmentation and release
2 Necrosis: uncontrolled cell death, often in tumour environments, leads to irregular DNA release
3 Active secretion: some cells actively release DNA fragments as part of intercellular communication
4 NETosis: neutrophil extracellular trap formation contributes to cfDNA in inflammatory conditions.
Liquid biopsy leverages the presence of tumour-derived materials in the bloodstream, including circulating tumour DNA, circulating tumour cells, extracellular vesicles, and tumour-educated platelets.
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WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM February 2026
In healthy individuals, cfDNA primarily originates from haematopoietic cells with a relatively short half-life of approximately 30 minutes to several hours. However, in cancer patients, a fraction of cfDNA derives from tumour cells – termed circulating tumour DNA
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