Liquid biopsy is a quick method for assessing DNA from tumor samples and allows for the potential of serial sampling. This non-invasive technology makes it feasible to expand oncology research to include cohorts that are unable to undergo a standard biopsy procedure or did not yield adequate tissue samples. With liquid biopsy, researchers can analyze biomarkers circulating in the bloodstream obtained through a conventional blood draw.
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has gained significance as a biomarker for cancer as they are released into the bloodstream by delocalized tumor cells, thus having the potential to provide a more accurate representation of tumor heterogeneity compared to tissue samples.1