Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Feb 23:10:20503121221077838.
doi: 10.1177/20503121221077838. eCollection 2022.

Role of circulating tumor DNA and circulating tumor cells in breast cancer: History and updates

Affiliations
Review

Role of circulating tumor DNA and circulating tumor cells in breast cancer: History and updates

Julien Chedid et al. SAGE Open Med. .

Abstract

Circulating tumor DNA, cell-free DNA, and circulating tumor cells have been at the epitome of recent research in breast cancer. These forms of liquid biopsies have been used in monitoring disease progression, estimating the risk of relapse, and response to treatment. Much has been done in relation to serial monitoring of circulating tumor DNA in patients with primary breast cancer for detection of occult metastatic disease. Some studies have also explored their use in monitoring treatment response. As the field of liquid biopsies expands, more prospective studies are needed to tailor management in an individualistic approach. In this literature review, the authors explore the multiple uses of circulating tumor DNA and circulating tumor cells in breast cancer.

Keywords: Circulating tumor DNA; biomarkers; breast cancer; cell-free DNA; circulating tumor cells.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

References

    1. Dawson S-J, Tsui DW, Murtaza M, et al.. Analysis of circulating tumor DNA to monitor metastatic breast cancer. N Engl J Med 2013; 368(13): 1199–1209. - PubMed
    1. Cristofanilli M, Fortina P. Circulating tumor DNA to monitor metastatic breast cancer. N Engl J Med 2013; 369: 93. - PubMed
    1. Cavallone L, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Lafleur J, et al.. Prognostic and predictive value of circulating tumor DNA during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for triple negative breast cancer. Sci Rep 2020; 10(1): 14704. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Harbeck N, Penault-Llorca F, Cortes J, et al.. Breast cancer. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2019; 5(1): 66. - PubMed
    1. Nenciu C-G, Dumitrascu MC, Sandru F. Breast cancer —no screening and rapid evolution. Med Image Datab 2020; 3(1): 13–14.