Circulating Cell-Free DNA and Circulating Tumor Cell Detection on the MassARRAY® System

Circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA), isolated from the plasma portion of a blood draw, can originate from apoptotic and necrotic tumor cells, whereas circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are living cells that have shed from the primary tumor and circulate in the bloodstream. The incidence of CTCs is very rare (1 in 1,000,000), but the tumor component of the ccfDNA can be as high as 10%. This application note answers some frequently asked questions regarding ccfDNA and CTCs and demonstrates the application of the MassARRAY® system in their study through the use of case studies.