Exclusive Liquid Biopsy Editorial Articles and News
A round-up of the latest news and editorial articles on the hot topic of liquid biopsies
8 Sept 2016
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Liquid biopsy is a revolutionary novel method for the early detection of cancer. Using non-solid tissue samples, usually blood, these non-invasive methods are able to detect certain genetic markers of cancer. As an emerging cutting edge technique, learn more with this round-up of exclusive editorial articles and product news.
1. Exclusive Editorial Article: Digital PCR Detection of Cancer Mutations from Liquid Biopsies
Biodesix discovers and commercializes cancer tests that help patients and their doctors make more informed decisions about treatment, based on a patient’s unique molecular profile. In this article, Randall Evans discusses a recent clinical trial that found ddPCR detection of EGFR and KRAS mutations in circulating tumor DNA, and EML4-ALK in circulating RNA, to be highly sensitive and specific. He also explains the advantages of fast, non-invasive tests for cancer patients and their caregivers.
Dr Mahmood Ayub, post-doctoral fellow in the Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology group at Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, and working under the leadership of Caroline Dive and Ged Brady, uses liquid biopsies to study blood biomarkers present in circulating, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) originating from tumors. Find out more in this exclusive editorial article.
3. News: QIAGEN Launches New PAXgene® Blood ccfDNA Tube
QIAGEN has announced the launch of the new PAXgene® Blood ccfDNA Tube for venous whole blood collection and room temperature stabilization of in-vivo circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) profiles. Together with the QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit and upcoming new automated ccfDNA isolation on the QIAsymphony, PAXgene Blood ccfDNA builds a fully integrated and complete standardized system covering all pre-analytical workflow steps.
4. News: Precision Monitoring of More Than 15 Common Cancers now Feasible with GATCLIQUID ONCOTARGET
GATC Biotech, has announced another expansion of the target list for its liquid biopsy-based service, GATCLIQUID ONCOTARGET. The product now enables highly sensitive detection of the most important mutations in more than 15 frequently diagnosed cancers including breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancer.
5. News: Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Next-Generation Sequencing Assay for Liquid Biopsy Research
Clinical oncology researchers who need to draw more meaningful genetic data, now have access to the new Oncomine Lung Cell-Free DNA (cfDNA) Assay designed to target mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples derived from circulating cfDNA in blood. When combined with Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Ion S5 System, the research assay meets a critical need for a multi-targeted, next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based solution that enables highly sensitive detection across a broad set of gene variants.
Newly published research involving the Circulogene droplet-volume liquid biopsy test has demonstrated for the first time that circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) sequencing can detect the presence of a new tumor mass earlier than current, standard-of-care imaging methods.
7. News: Siemens Enters Field of Molecular Services for Oncology
The company’s cancer genome diagnostic platform NEO1 will support pathologists and oncologists with comprehensive molecular information to help select targeted cancer therapies. NEO New Oncology is developing molecular profiling assays based on NGS (Next Generation Sequencing), both for tissue specimens and body liquids. This includes NEOliquid, a liquid biopsy test for the analysis of genomic profiles of solid tumors from a simple blood sample.
