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Towards multi-cancer screening using liquid biopsies

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Cell-free DNA and proteins are secreted into the bloodstream by multiple types of cancer. In a recently published prospective study involving 10,006 women, such markers were used in a cancer screening approach that incorporated PET–CT as a confirmatory test. Herein, we discuss the implications of these results.

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Fig. 1: Protocol used in liquid biopsy-based cancer screening study4.

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Acknowledgements

The authors’ work is supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council Theme-Based Research Scheme (T12-401/16-W) and the Li Ka Shing Foundation.

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Correspondence to Y. M. Dennis Lo.

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Y.M.D.L. is a scientific co-founder, shareholder, scientific advisory board member and consultant of, and receives research support from, Grail. He is also a founder, shareholder and board member of the Take2 Group of companies and DRA Limited and an advisor of Decheng Capital. W.K.J.L. holds equity in Grail.

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Lo, Y.M.D., Lam, W.K.J. Towards multi-cancer screening using liquid biopsies. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 17, 525–526 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41571-020-0404-0

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