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Circulating Tumor DNA—the Potential of Liquid Biopsies

  • Translational Research (T King and E Mittendorf, Section Editors)
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Current Breast Cancer Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recent studies suggest circulating cell-free tumor DNA offers advantages compared to tissue biopsies for mutation profiling. This concept of “liquid biopsy” allows for a more global genomic picture of metastatic disease since blood serves as a reservoir for all metastatic sites. In addition, cell-free tumor DNA can be measured quantitatively, presenting the possibility of using circulating tumor DNA as a biomarker to measure disease burden and response to therapies. Here, we review historic and recent studies demonstrating the clinical potential of measuring cell-free tumor DNA in breast cancer patients and future steps needed to translate liquid biopsies from research to clinical practice.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by The Avon Foundation (BHP) and NIH CA009071 (KC, BHP). We would also like to thank and acknowledge the support of NIH P30 CA006973, the Sandy Garcia Charitable Foundation, the Commonwealth Foundation, the Santa Fe Foundation, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Health Network Foundation, the Marcie Ellen Foundation, The Helen Golde Trust, and The Robin Page/Lebor Foundation. None of the funding sources influenced the design, interpretation, or submission of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, CRBI Room 116, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Karen Cravero & Ben Ho Park

  2. The Whiting School of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 1650 Orleans Street, CRBI Room 151, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Ben Ho Park

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  1. Karen Cravero
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Correspondence to Ben Ho Park.

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Karen Cravero declares no conflict of interest.

Ben Ho Park is a member of the scientific advisory boards of Horizon Discovery, LTD and Loxo Oncology and has research contracts with Genomic Health, Inc. and Foundation Medicine. Under separate licensing agreements between Horizon Discovery, LTD and The Johns Hopkins University, B.H.P. is entitled to a share of royalties received by the University on sales of products. The terms of this arrangement are being managed by the Johns Hopkins University, in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.

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Cravero, K., Park, B.H. Circulating Tumor DNA—the Potential of Liquid Biopsies. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 8, 14–21 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-016-0199-2

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