Next-generation Liquid Biopsy: Tumor Monitoring from Droplet Volumes of Blood

Abstract

It is in agreement and the growing belief that “liquid biopsy” can provide a global longitudinal picture of tumor heterogeneity beyond tissue biopsy from the primary tumor. Especially, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) circulating in the bloodstream could soon become the unprecedented non-invasive, standard-of-care molecular marker for the treatment and management of cancer patients. However, the requirement of large sample volume, low yield, and labor-intensiveness are major obstacles for the routine application of cfDNA-based testing in the clinic. A proprietary cfDNA recovery/concentration method with novel characteristics of low input and high output has been developed. This sample preparation breakthrough enables multiple analyses with droplet volumes of sample on a broad range of genomic platforms, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) and qPCR . Our technology allows clinicians to work with a sample volume as small as 20 microliters (via a finger-prick), which can further expedite clinical decision-making and identify targeted therapies or experimental clinical trials for eligible patients in a time- and cost-efficient manner.