For example, to what extent does test accuracy vary among tumour types and stages of disease? Does the liquid biopsy provide a representative sampling of all the genetic clones in a tumour or is there a bias to specific sub-regions? Researchers are currently working to answer these questions. Far from being redundant, taking and testing tissue samples remains the gold standard.įor liquid biopsies, it is still relatively early days and some questions still need to be answered. However, there are challenges to the widespread use of this new approach and there is still a place for tissue biopsies. Liquid biopsies have the potential to revolutionise cancer care. The power to improve progression and survival rates will be the ultimate determinant of whether liquid biopsies become a leading diagnostic tool. Tissue could also be reserved for other novel testing for example for cancer immunotherapy where currently there are no blood tests available.” “From a treatment perspective," comments Lukas Amler Senior Director, Oncology Biomarker Development, Genentech, “the increased access to liquid biopsies, especially for patients that do not have tissue available or cannot undergo a new invasive biopsy, could significantly increase the number of patients who will benefit from powerful targeted medicines, particularly in lung cancer. Liquid biopsies could be a game-changer in cancer testing. This could make a significant difference to the way we understand and treat cancer.”
And in the longer term, liquid biopsies may ultimately be used to catch signs of cancer early, before symptoms arise. “In terms of patient acceptability and disease management, the benefits of non-invasive, quick and easily repeatable tests are clear. “Liquid biopsies could be a game-changer in cancer testing,” said Miro Venturi, Roche’s Global Head of Diagnostics Biomarkers. The tissue samples removed for biopsy may not show all mutations whereas liquid biopsies offer an improved chance of detecting these genetic changes. Most cancers have multiple genetic mutations and they may not have the same ones in all parts of the cancer. The biggest benefit lies in the potential of liquid biopsies to detect disease progression or treatment resistance long before it would trigger clinical symptoms or appear on imaging scans. Tolerability and convenience are a major boost for patients. The blood sample is then ‘spun down’ to get 2 millilitres of plasma which can be analysed for tumour DNA.
The non-invasive nature of a liquid biopsies, which require only 5 millilitres of blood, means they are much easier to tolerate and the procedure is quicker than a surgical biopsy. Liquid biopsy – a non invasive option for accurate NSCLC detection and improved patient monitoring
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