Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) refers to DNA released by cancerous cells into the blood stream. Cancer mutations in ctDNA mirror those found in traditional tumor biopsies, which allows them to be used as molecular biomarkers to track the disease. Scientists can purify and then analyze ctDNA using next-generation sequencing (NGS) or PCR-based methods such as digital PCR. NGS-based methods provide a comprehensive view of a cancer’s genetic makeup and is especially useful in diagnosis while digital PCR offers a more targeted approach especially well-suited for detecting minimal residual disease and for monitoring treatment response and disease progression. Recent progress in epigenetics has expanded the use of<unk>  for the detection of early-stage cancers, including by approaches such as Cancer Likelihood in Plasma (CLiP) .<unk> es can detect changes in tumor burden months or years before conventional imaging tests can, making them suitable for early tumor detection, monitoring, and detection of resistance mutations.
Liquid biopsy
Liquid-based cytology
OpenEMR
Needle-localized biopsy
Radiomics
FNA Mapping
Biopsy
Papanicolaou stain