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Liquid biopsy as a perioperative biomarker of digestive tract cancers: review of the literature

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Abstract

Tissue biopsies are the gold-standard for investigating the molecular characterization of tumors. However, a “solid” biopsy is an invasive procedure that cannot capture real-time tumor dynamics and may yield inaccurate information because of intratumoral heterogeneity. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge about surgical treatment-associated “liquid” biopsy for patients with digestive organ tumors. A liquid biopsy is a technique involving the sampling and testing of non-solid biological materials, including blood, urine, saliva, and ascites. Previous studies have reported the potential value of blood-based biomarkers, circulating tumor cells, and cell-free nucleic acids as facilitators of cancer treatment. The applications of a liquid biopsy in a cancer treatment setting include screening and early diagnosis, prognostication, and outcome and recurrence monitoring of cancer. This technique has also been suggested as a useful tool in personalized medicine. The transition to precision medicine is still in its early stages. Soon, however, liquid biopsy is likely to form the basis of patient selection for molecular targeted therapies, predictions regarding chemotherapy sensitivity, and real-time evaluations of therapeutic effects.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Number 18K16324). All authors contributed to the final manuscript.

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  1. First Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi, 4093898, Japan

    Katsutoshi Shoda, Ryo Saito, Suguru Maruyama, Shinji Furuya, Hidenori Akaike, Yoshihiko Kawaguchi, Hidetake Amemiya, Hiromichi Kawaida, Makoto Sudo, Shingo Inoue, Hiroshi Kono & Daisuke Ichikawa

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  1. Katsutoshi Shoda
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Correspondence to Daisuke Ichikawa.

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Shoda, K., Saito, R., Maruyama, S. et al. Liquid biopsy as a perioperative biomarker of digestive tract cancers: review of the literature. Surg Today 51, 849–861 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-020-02148-7

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