Clinical Applications of Circulating Tumor Cells and Circulating Tumor DNA as a Liquid Biopsy Marker in Colorectal Cancer

TY - JOUR

T1 - Clinical Applications of Circulating Tumor Cells and Circulating Tumor DNA as a Liquid Biopsy Marker in Colorectal Cancer

AU - Heidrich, Isabel

AU - Abdalla, Thaer S A

AU - Reeh, Matthias

AU - Pantel, Klaus

PY - 2021/9/7

Y1 - 2021/9/7

N2 - Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. It is a heterogeneous tumor with a wide genomic instability, leading to tumor recurrence, distant metastasis, and therapy resistance. Therefore, adjunct non-invasive tools are urgently needed to help the current classical staging systems for more accurate prognostication and guiding personalized therapy. In recent decades, there has been an increasing interest in the diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive value of circulating cancer-derived material in CRC. Liquid biopsies provide direct non-invasive access to tumor material, which is shed into the circulation; this enables the analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTC) and genomic components such as circulating free DNA (cfDNA), which could provide the key for personalized therapy. Liquid biopsy (LB) allows for the identification of patients with a high risk for disease progression after curative surgery, as well as longitudinal monitoring for disease progression and therapy response. Here, we will review the most recent studies on CRC, demonstrating the clinical potential and utility of CTCs and ctDNA. We will discuss some of the advantages and limitations of LBs and the future perspectives in the field of CRC management.

AB - Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. It is a heterogeneous tumor with a wide genomic instability, leading to tumor recurrence, distant metastasis, and therapy resistance. Therefore, adjunct non-invasive tools are urgently needed to help the current classical staging systems for more accurate prognostication and guiding personalized therapy. In recent decades, there has been an increasing interest in the diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive value of circulating cancer-derived material in CRC. Liquid biopsies provide direct non-invasive access to tumor material, which is shed into the circulation; this enables the analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTC) and genomic components such as circulating free DNA (cfDNA), which could provide the key for personalized therapy. Liquid biopsy (LB) allows for the identification of patients with a high risk for disease progression after curative surgery, as well as longitudinal monitoring for disease progression and therapy response. Here, we will review the most recent studies on CRC, demonstrating the clinical potential and utility of CTCs and ctDNA. We will discuss some of the advantages and limitations of LBs and the future perspectives in the field of CRC management.

U2 - 10.3390/cancers13184500

DO - 10.3390/cancers13184500

M3 - SCORING: Review article

C2 - 34572727

VL - 13

JO - CANCERS

JF - CANCERS

SN - 2072-6694

IS - 18

M1 - 4500

ER -