Liquid biopsy and minimal residual disease — latest advances and implications for cure

Liquid biopsy has been introduced as a new diagnostic concept predicated on the analysis of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) or circulating tumour-derived factors, in particular, cell-free tumour DNA (ctDNA). Highly sensitive liquid biopsy assays have been developed that can now be applied to detect and characterize minimal residual disease (MRD), which reflects the presence of tumour cells disseminated from the primary lesion to distant organs...