Liquid Biopsy-Based Biomarkers of Treatment Response and Resistance

Abstract

Predictive biomarkers aid selection of personalized therapy targeted to molecular alterations within an individual's tumor. Patients' responses to targeted therapies are commonly followed by treatment resistance. Here, we survey liquid biopsies as alternatives to tumor biopsies to assess predictive and therapy response biomarkers. We examine the potential of liquid biopsies to meet the challenges of minimal residual disease monitoring after curative intent treatment for earlier detection of disease recurrence. We focus on blood, the most commonly collected minimally invasive clinical sample, and on the two most widely studied assays, circulating tumor DNA and circulating tumor cells.

Keywords: circulating tumor DNA; circulating tumor cells; liquid biopsy; minimal residual disease monitoring; personalized cancer medicine; predictive biomarkers; sensitivity and specificity; targeted and immunotherapy; treatment resistance; treatment response biomarkers.