{"id":9195,"date":"2024-11-13T14:35:56","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T12:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=9195"},"modified":"2026-05-27T12:02:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T09:02:20","slug":"liquid-biopsy-a-new-era-in-cancer-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/liquid-biopsy-a-new-era-in-cancer-diagnosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Liquid biopsy: a new era in cancer diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"52\" data-end=\"82\"><strong data-start=\"55\" data-end=\"82\">What is a liquid biopsy?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"84\" data-end=\"377\">Liquid biopsy is <strong data-start=\"105\" data-end=\"208\">non-invasive method of detecting cancer cells or tumor genetic material in biological fluids<\/strong>, most often in the blood. Unlike a traditional biopsy, which requires a tissue sample, a liquid biopsy allows for the analysis of tumor changes <strong data-start=\"346\" data-end=\"376\">without surgical intervention<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"379\" data-end=\"540\">The main goal is <strong data-start=\"394\" data-end=\"441\">detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)<\/strong>, tumor cells or exosomes that enter the bloodstream from the primary or metastatic site.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"542\" data-end=\"686\">This method is already actively used in the USA, Europe and is being implemented in clinical practice in Ukraine, in particular within the framework of <strong data-start=\"660\" data-end=\"685\">precision oncology<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"688\" data-end=\"730\"><strong data-start=\"691\" data-end=\"730\">What liquids can be used?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"732\" data-end=\"934\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"732\" data-end=\"766\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"734\" data-end=\"766\"><strong data-start=\"734\" data-end=\"751\">Blood (plasma)<\/strong> \u2014 most often<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"767\" data-end=\"811\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"769\" data-end=\"811\"><strong data-start=\"769\" data-end=\"777\">Urine<\/strong> \u2014 for some urological tumors<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"812\" data-end=\"861\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"814\" data-end=\"861\"><strong data-start=\"814\" data-end=\"838\">Cerebrospinal fluid<\/strong> \u2014 for brain tumors<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"862\" data-end=\"934\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"864\" data-end=\"934\"><strong data-start=\"864\" data-end=\"898\">Saliva, bile, pleural effusion<\/strong> \u2014 for research in individual cases<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"936\" data-end=\"978\"><strong data-start=\"939\" data-end=\"978\">What can a liquid biopsy detect?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"pointer-events-none relative left-[50%]! flex w-[100cqw] translate-x-[-50%] justify-center *:pointer-events-auto\">\n<div class=\"tableContainer horzScrollShadows\">\n<table class=\"min-w-full\" data-start=\"980\" data-end=\"1734\">\n<thead data-start=\"980\" data-end=\"1086\">\n<tr data-start=\"980\" data-end=\"1086\">\n<th data-start=\"980\" data-end=\"1024\"><strong data-start=\"982\" data-end=\"996\">Possibility<\/strong><\/th>\n<th data-start=\"1024\" data-end=\"1086\"><strong data-start=\"1026\" data-end=\"1052\">Practical application<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody data-start=\"1195\" data-end=\"1734\">\n<tr data-start=\"1195\" data-end=\"1302\">\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"1195\" data-end=\"1239\">Detection of mutations in ctDNA<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)\/3)]\" data-start=\"1239\" data-end=\"1302\">Choosing targeted therapy (EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, ALK, and others)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"1303\" data-end=\"1410\">\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)\/3)]\" data-start=\"1303\" data-end=\"1347\">Definition of minimal residual disease<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)\/3)]\" data-start=\"1347\" data-end=\"1410\">Monitoring after surgery or chemotherapy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"1411\" data-end=\"1518\">\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"1411\" data-end=\"1455\">Early diagnosis<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)\/3)]\" data-start=\"1455\" data-end=\"1518\">Tumor detection before clinical symptoms appear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"1519\" data-end=\"1626\">\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"1519\" data-end=\"1563\">Evaluation of treatment effectiveness<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)\/3)]\" data-start=\"1563\" data-end=\"1626\">Decreasing ctDNA levels indicate a response to therapy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"1627\" data-end=\"1734\">\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)]\" data-start=\"1627\" data-end=\"1671\">Relapse detection<\/td>\n<td class=\"max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2\/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)\/3)]\" data-start=\"1671\" data-end=\"1734\">ctDNA appears in the blood even before clinical progression<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1736\" data-end=\"1956\">Oncologist Igor Savin explains:<br data-start=\"1763\" data-end=\"1766\" \/><em data-start=\"1766\" data-end=\"1956\">\u00abLiquid biopsy does not replace tissue biopsy, but it gives the doctor a unique tool to track changes in the tumor in almost real time. This is invaluable in the treatment of metastatic forms of cancer.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1736\" data-end=\"1956\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9197\" src=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/themes\/woodmart\/images\/lazy.svg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1204-1.jpg\" alt=\"a patient donates blood in a laboratory\" width=\"1180\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1204-1.jpg 1180w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1204-1-150x94.jpg 150w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1204-1-600x376.jpg 600w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1204-1-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1204-1-1024x642.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1204-1-768x482.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1180px) 100vw, 1180px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"1958\" data-end=\"1990\"><strong data-start=\"1961\" data-end=\"1990\">Advantages of liquid biopsy<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"1992\" data-end=\"2310\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1992\" data-end=\"2044\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1994\" data-end=\"2044\"><strong data-start=\"1994\" data-end=\"2005\">Security<\/strong> \u2014 does not require surgical intervention<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2045\" data-end=\"2097\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2047\" data-end=\"2097\"><strong data-start=\"2047\" data-end=\"2071\">Patient comfort<\/strong> \u2014 routine blood draw<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2098\" data-end=\"2164\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2100\" data-end=\"2164\"><strong data-start=\"2100\" data-end=\"2138\">Possibility of multiple control<\/strong> \u2014 dynamics of tumor changes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2165\" data-end=\"2237\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2167\" data-end=\"2237\"><strong data-start=\"2167\" data-end=\"2202\">Access to genetic information<\/strong> \u2014 even if the fabric is not available<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2238\" data-end=\"2310\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2240\" data-end=\"2310\"><strong data-start=\"2240\" data-end=\"2274\">Speed of getting results<\/strong> \u2014 7\u201310 days in most laboratories<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"2312\" data-end=\"2360\"><strong data-start=\"2315\" data-end=\"2360\">Who can be prescribed a liquid biopsy?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"2362\" data-end=\"2698\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2362\" data-end=\"2436\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2364\" data-end=\"2436\">Patients with <strong data-start=\"2376\" data-end=\"2395\">suspected cancer<\/strong>, from which it is impossible to take a tissue sample<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2437\" data-end=\"2496\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2439\" data-end=\"2496\">Patients who are already receiving <strong data-start=\"2465\" data-end=\"2494\">targeted or immunotherapy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2497\" data-end=\"2563\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2499\" data-end=\"2563\">If necessary <strong data-start=\"2516\" data-end=\"2545\">residual disease assessments<\/strong> after treatment<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2564\" data-end=\"2631\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2566\" data-end=\"2631\">For <strong data-start=\"2570\" data-end=\"2616\">choosing an individual treatment protocol<\/strong> in case of relapse<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2632\" data-end=\"2698\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2634\" data-end=\"2698\">Within <strong data-start=\"2642\" data-end=\"2666\">screening programs<\/strong> (at the stage of clinical trials)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"2700\" data-end=\"2746\"><strong data-start=\"2703\" data-end=\"2746\">Liquid biopsy and precision oncology<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2748\" data-end=\"2921\">Modern <a href=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/what-oncomarkers-show-we-will-explain-simply-and-professionally\/\" title=\"What tumor markers show: we explain them simply and professionally\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"435\">oncology<\/a> moves from a &quot;one-size-fits-all&quot; approach to <strong data-start=\"2818\" data-end=\"2844\">individual therapy<\/strong>, which is based on <strong data-start=\"2863\" data-end=\"2894\">mutational profile of the tumor<\/strong>. Liquid biopsy allows:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2923\" data-end=\"3138\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2923\" data-end=\"2961\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2925\" data-end=\"2961\">to find the exact <strong data-start=\"2939\" data-end=\"2959\">genetic target<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2962\" data-end=\"3014\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2964\" data-end=\"3014\">change therapy if any appear <strong data-start=\"2996\" data-end=\"3012\">new mutations<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3015\" data-end=\"3064\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3017\" data-end=\"3064\"><strong data-start=\"3017\" data-end=\"3048\">monitor resistance<\/strong> to drugs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3065\" data-end=\"3138\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3067\" data-end=\"3138\">save time on expensive tests if treatment is ineffective<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"3140\" data-end=\"3167\"><strong data-start=\"3143\" data-end=\"3167\">Limitations and challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"3169\" data-end=\"3421\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3169\" data-end=\"3226\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3171\" data-end=\"3226\">Not all tumors <strong data-start=\"3186\" data-end=\"3224\">secrete sufficient amounts of ctDNA<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3227\" data-end=\"3283\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3229\" data-end=\"3283\">Maybe <strong data-start=\"3239\" data-end=\"3263\">not sensitive enough<\/strong> in the early stages<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3284\" data-end=\"3347\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3286\" data-end=\"3347\">Needed <strong data-start=\"3295\" data-end=\"3345\">high standardization of laboratories and technologies<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3348\" data-end=\"3421\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3350\" data-end=\"3421\"><strong data-start=\"3350\" data-end=\"3358\">Price<\/strong> research still remains high for widespread use<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Liquid biopsy is <strong data-start=\"4181\" data-end=\"4207\">technology of the future<\/strong>, which is already changing the lives of cancer patients. It allows you to see the tumor not only under a microscope, but also <strong data-start=\"4309\" data-end=\"4335\">at the molecular level<\/strong>, respond to changes instantly and build treatment based on an individual genetic portrait.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a liquid biopsy? A liquid biopsy is a non-invasive method of detecting cancer cells or tumor genetic material in biological fluids,<\/p>","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":9196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-zahvoryuvannya-ta-symptomy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/97"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9195"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9195\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}