Type of test Blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Normal findings

No abnormal cells or cell nucleic acids

Test explanation and related physiology

 The principle supporting liquid biopsy is based on repeated findings that tumors shed molecules and cells into bodily fluids (particularly blood). Since the development of molecular testing laboratory methods, researchers have shown that analyzing these molecules and cells can reveal some of the same and even additional information that tissue biopsies provide. With this additional information, personalized treatment strategies can be developed.

Tissue biopsies usually involve an invasive procedure that can be risky, costly, painful, and not easily repeated during the course of the disease therapy. Furthermore, some tumors may be inaccessible. Liquid biopsies are easily obtained through venipuncture or by obtaining a urine specimen. They can track tumors as they develop and change over time.

A liquid biopsy may be used to help find cancer at an early stage. Being able to take multiple samples of blood over time may also help doctors understand what kind of molecular changes are taking place in a tumor. Repeated liquid biopsies can be used in surveillance of treated cancer patients to look for recurrence. In a similar manner, repeated liquid biopsies during treatment can more accurately assess and monitor treatment response.

It is important, at this time, however, to recognize that liquid biopsy is far from being “standard of care.” There are many questions that must be more fully answered before this form of testing becomes clinically commonplace.

Different liquid biopsy tests analyze different kinds of tumor material, such as entire circulating free tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), RNA, proteins, and tiny vesicles of nucleic acid molecules called exomes. The tests detect these molecules or cells in various bodily fluids, including blood, urine, CSF, and saliva.

Liquid biopsies are now being used in lung, colo-rectal, esophageal, gastric, hepatic, pancreatic, head and neck, ovarian, myeloma, lymphoid, and breast cancers. In cardiology, endothelial cells identified in the blood, may indicate myocardial infarction (MI). Cell free fetal DNA (see cell-free maternal testing) is used to identify serious fetal genetic and chromosomal abnormalities.

 Procedure and patient care

• See inside front cover for Routine Blood Testing.

• Fasting: no

 • Blood tube commonly used: see laboratory for directions

Abnormal findings

- Presence of circulating tumor cells

- Presence of DNA or RNA fragments of known tumor cells

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

عباس.. طفل فقد والده فوجد في خدمة زائري عاشوراء وطنًا آمنًا

شعبة الخطابة النسوية تواصل إقامة مجالس العزاء في شهر المحرم الحرام

لليوم الخامس.. العتبة العباسية المقدسة تقيم مجلس عزاء في صحن مرقد أبي الفضل العباس (عليه السلام)

قسم الشؤون الفكرية يقيم مجلس عزاء حسيني في العاصمة التنزانية دار السلام

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

لمن تجاوز الستين.. عليك بشرب 4 أكواب من القهوة يوميا ؟

الحليب مع العسل.. مزيج يمنحك 7 فوائد صحية

لا تبالغ في التنظيف.. قليل من "الاتساخ" قد يحمي عائلتك

دراسة تكشف علاقة خطيرة بين عمر الأم وصحة مولودها

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

هل هاتفك مراقب؟.. 5 علامات خطيرة تكشف التجسس عليك

دبي تطلق أول رحلة تجريبية للتاكسي الجوي

كيف تساعد الصيانة الوقائية في الحفاظ على كفاءة التكييف في سيارتك ؟

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المزيد

مواضيع ذات صلة

lipoproteins (High-density lipoproteins [HDLs, HDL-C], Low density lipoproteins [LDLs, LDL-C], Very-low-density lipoproteins [VLDLs], Lipoprotein electrophoresis, Lipoprotein phenotyping, Lipid fractionation, Non-HDL cholesterol, Lipid profile)

lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2 PLAC test)

Hemolytic Anemias

Sickle Cell Anemia (Hemoglobinopathy S, Sickle Cell Disease)

Laboratory Diagnosis (Phenotypic) of Thalassemias

Pathophysiological and General Clinical Aspects of β-thalassemias

lipase (Pancreatic lipase, Lipoprotein lipase)

leucine aminopeptidase (LAP)

Legionnaires disease antibody test

Sideropenic and Assimilated Anemia

Automated Differential Count

Differential Leukocyte Count (Leukocyte Formula)