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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Cancer J. 2018 Mar-Apr;24(2):93–103. doi: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000311

Table 3.

How can liquid biopsy markers be implemented for precision medicine in clinical settings?

Analysis Type Information Provided
Enumeration

  • Surrogate for conventional biopsies and imaging

  • Prognostic value – overall survival and progression free survival

  • Detection of cancer recurrence

  • Real-time noninvasive monitoring of tumor sensitivity or acquired resistance

  • Treatment algorithm to guide the use of marker levels over the course of treatment75
Gene Expression

  • Understanding of the mechanism underlying tumor metastasis

  • Identify gene markers predicting disease progression and response to treatment

  • Identify the tissue of origin
Mutation assay

  • Recognition of “actionable” targets – personalized therapy

  • Recognition of acquired resistance via acquired mutations
Sequencing

  • Identify novel targets for potential therapies