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Review
. 2025 Mar 7:16:1546332.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1546332. eCollection 2025.

Cell-free DNA: plays an essential role in early diagnosis and immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer

Yi Wen  1 , Gengmin Zhao  2 , Chunhua Dai  3
Affiliations
Review

Cell-free DNA: plays an essential role in early diagnosis and immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer

Yi Wen et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is renowned for its aggressive nature and dismal prognosis, with the majority of patients diagnosed at an advanced stage. The prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer can be improved by early diagnosis and effective treatment. Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis and monitoring of pancreatic cancer. This research presents a review of circulating cell-free DNA essential role in the early diagnosis and immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer. The detection methods of cfDNA, its potential as a diagnostic biomarker, and the latest research progress in cfDNA-based immunotherapy are discussed. The findings suggest that cfDNA plays a vital role in the early detection and personalised treatment of pancreatic cancer, holding great promise for improving patient outcomes.

Keywords: cell-free DNA; early diagnosis; immunotherapy; liquid biopsy; pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Origin of cfDNA.
Figure 2
Figure 2
cfDNA and the immunosuppressive microenvironment. TLR9, toll-like receptor 9; MyD88, myeloiddifferentiationfactor88; DAMP, damage-associated molecular patterns; NLRP3, NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3; Treg, regulatory cells; Caspase, cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase; ROS, reactive oxygen species; TNFα, tumor necrosis factor-α; IL, interleukin; CCL, chemoattractant cytokine ligand; MDSC, myeloid-derived suppressor cells; PD-1/PD-L1, programmed cell death protein-1/programmed cell death ligand-1; DC, dendritic cells.
Figure 3
Figure 3
cfDNA and immune evasion.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Significance of building regional centers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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