Liquid biopsy in prostate cancer: Circulating tumor cells and beyond

Abstract

Prostate cancer is a common malignancy impacting countless men without curative options in the advanced state. Numerous therapies have been introduced in recent years improving survival and symptom control, yet optimal methods for predicting or monitoring response have not been developed. In the era of precision medicine, characterization of individual cancers is necessary to inform treatment decisions. Liquid biopsies, through evaluation of various blood-based analytes, provide a method of patient evaluation with potential applications in virtually all disease states. In this review, we will describe current approaches with a particular focus on demonstrated clinical utility in the evaluation and management of prostate cancer.